McDowall to Lead Scotland Against Maori All Blacks

Glasgow Warriors centre Stafford McDowall has been named captain of Scotland for their upcoming match against the Maori All Blacks, the first fixture on their Pacific tour. McDowall previously led Scotland in November against Portugal and played a pivotal role in all five of their Six Nations matches, stepping up in the absence of the injured Sione Tuipulotu.

Key Players and Lineup

McDowall will be supported by two vice-captains: George Horne of Glasgow Warriors, who starts at scrum-half, and Josh Bayliss from Bath, who will be in the back-row. Horne, with 36 caps, is the most experienced player in Gregor Townsend's starting 15, although the match in Whangarei is not an official Test.

Adam Hastings will take the fly-half position, while Rory Hutchinson of Northampton Saints will partner McDowall in the centres. Hutchinson was initially left out of the squad but was called up following an injury to Edinburgh's Matt Currie.

Maori All Blacks' Recent Form

The Maori All Blacks come into this match on the back of a commanding 53-20 victory over a Japan XV. Townsend highlighted the physicality and quality of the Maori team, particularly in the contact area, and praised their talented backs who look to express themselves on the field.

Scotland's Squad and Opportunities

In the forwards, Glasgow prop Fin Richardson makes his debut in a senior Scotland side alongside his club teammate Nathan McBeth. Edinburgh's Patrick Harrison will start at hooker. George Turner returns to the Scotland squad from the bench, having recently signed for Harlequins after a stint with the Kobe Steelers in Japan.

Uncapped Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke, who qualifies through Scottish grandparents, is among the replacements, as is Montpellier number eight Alexander Masibaka. Arron Reed of Sale and Harry Paterson of Edinburgh will start on the wings, with Paterson playing for Scotland for the first time in a year.

Returning Players and Tour Prospects

Full-back Ollie Smith makes his international return after a knee injury, while second-row Cameron Henderson and openside flanker Andy Onyeama-Christie are back from lengthy lay-offs. Notable absentees include Darcy Graham, Tom Jordan, Kyle Steyn, Grant Gilchrist, and tour captain Rory Darge.

Townsend emphasized the importance of this tour for player development, noting that 11 new caps from the last summer tour went on to play Tests in November and the Six Nations. He urged his squad to seize the opportunity to impress ahead of the Fiji and Samoa matches.

Match Schedule

Scotland will face the Maori All Blacks on Saturday (04:35 BST), followed by a match against Fiji in Suva the following week, and conclude their tour at Eden Park in Auckland against Samoa on 18 July.