Two All Blacks RULED OUT of Scotland clash this weekend

“Jordie got a scan today, so we’ll find out a little bit more this afternoon,” Robertson said. “As good as Scott’s cut is healing, both of them won’t be available for the weekend.”

“We’re playing against a Scottish team with eight Lions in it. There are some generational players there, so it’s going to be a game for the ages,” he said.

“We know their strengths, and they’ll know ours. We’ll pick the strongest team we can for a really physical Test match.

“They’ve got a handy backline, a few good jacklers who get over the ball, solid lineout options, and a good balance across their squad. It’s a highly experienced team — high cohesion, highly motivated. It’s a big weekend.”

“We don’t get to play them that often — only twice in my time as coach, and both were great occasions,” Townsend said. “We know we have to be close to our best to win, and that’s what we’ll be working on this week.”

“It’s about how we react — whether we’re ahead or behind, how we respond to errors and moments in the game.

“This group knows it can beat anyone. We were 10 points up the last time we played them, only two or three years ago. Maybe that weight of history doesn’t affect this team anymore.”

“They’re used to it,” he said. “They go to South Africa and Argentina all the time for Rugby Championship games. They were chartering on Saturday night. Maybe they’ll mix things up and give some bench guys a run.”