Saturday is the big one, obviously. Scotland trailed 17-0 the last time they played the All Blacks and were 14-0 down the time before that. A good start would be useful. New Zealand are building nicely under Dave Rennie and playing some beautiful stuff.

They're also so wily when the heat comes on. That's when Scotland start to make mistakes - over-exuberance at the breakdown, a lineout throw gone awry, a dropped ball at the wrong time. Little things in themselves but a big thing when they're all added together.

Scotland need to play out of their skin and then hold their nerve. It's doable, but so difficult.

Bradbury has been good this season apart from the odd blip. Townsend doesn't trust him. It must be a sickener for Bradbury to see Ollie Leatherbarrow in this squad ahead of him.

McDowall is a powerhouse athlete with great subtlety in his game. Hutchison is the incumbent and deservedly so. A hugely influential player. The options are terrific. Matt Currie and Ollie Smith are no slouches at 13 as well.

Townsend needs to look at every Test between now and the World Cup as an opportunity to claim scalps and gain momentum. The time for experimenting again can wait for after the World Cup under a new coach.