Scotland v New Zealand predictions; free rugby union betting tips

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Sunday's autumn international between Scotland and New Zealand.

Where to watch

Amazon Prime, 2.15pm Sunday

Best bet

New Zealand to win by one to 12 points
1pt 23-10 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match preview

When Scotland last faced New Zealand five years ago they came closer to beating them than they had done in the previous quarter of a century, and that's in keeping with the Scots' steady improvement over recent years.

There have been eight showdowns with the All Blacks at Murrayfield this century, and the first six were lost by a double-figure margin, five of them by more than 20 points.

A 24-16 reverse in 2014 was followed by that 22-17 defeat in 2017, when Stuart Hogg was just caught metres short of the line when through for a winning try.

Scotland have finished in the bottom half of the Six Nations table for the last three years and failed to make the quarter-finals at the last Rugby World Cup, but heavy defeats are not the regular features they once were.

Since returning from the interruption of Covid in the autumn of 2020 Scotland have won 13 of their 24 matches, and of their 11 defeats, four were by a double-figure margin and only one by more than 20 points.

This is the toughest test they've faced against an All Blacks side who put more than 50 points on Wales last week. Both nations have shuffled their line-up, with Beauden Barrett starting at fly-half for the All Blacks while Finn Russell makes a surprise return in the Scotland number ten shirt.

If the contest opens up, Scotland have the scoring power in their back three to make a mark, although they have shown they can dig in and keep a lid on teams as they did in their 16-15 defeat to Australia a fortnight ago.

Beating the All Blacks may still be a way off for this Scotland side but they look worth backing to put up another good fight.

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