Scotland v New Zealand: SCRUMHALF MIKE Blair will captain Scotland against New Zealand in their opening November international this Saturday.

Blair, whose last Test start came against England in March, 2009, replaces Rory Lawson in the starting line-up as one of five changes announced by Andy Robinson from the team that beat Argentina 13-9 in June.

The Edinburgh player suffered a dip in form last year and lost his place in the side to Chris Cusiter, who is nursing an injured knee and then to Lawson who is out with a broken hand.

Scotland are unbeaten in their last four Tests and come into the game on the back of an impressive series victory over Argentina.

“It is imperative that we front up from the first whistle against the All Blacks on Saturday,” Robinson said. “We have shown our appetite to drive forward our game and our aim is to improve on our best performances last season, which we know inspired the country.”

Glasgow’s Richie Gray comes into the secondrow for his first start in place of the injured Alastair Kellock, while Rory Lamont, prop Euan Murray and number eight Richie Vernon were also named in the team.

Meanwhile, tries from Don Barrell and James Short were enough to help Saracens to a 20-6 victory over the USA yesterday in London.

Eddie O’Sullivan’s side now move on to face Portugal, Scotland A and Georgia on their remaining tour fixtures.

SCOTLAND: H Southwell (Stade Français); R Lamont (Toulon), M Evans (Glasgow), G Morrison (Glasgow), S Lamont (Scarlets); D Parks (Cardiff), M Blair (Edinburgh); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), R Gray (Glasgow) J Hamilton (Gloucester), K Brown (Saracens), R Vernon (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow).