Scotland skipper Stafford McDowall can't wait to go head to head with the Haka in New Zealand

Stafford McDowall admits it will be a career highlight to captain Scotland in New Zealand - especially when it comes to facing down the Haka.

Scotland begin their summer tour in the early hours of Saturday morning when they face the Maori All Blacks in Whangarei.

The issue of how opposition teams should face the Haka is always a point of contention, with the Maori All Blacks usually going for a very intense and dramatic version of the war cry.

Former England prop Joe Marler claimed last year that the Haka is ‘ridiculous’ and ‘needs binning’.

But, although Scotland have no plans to march it done, McDowall insists they will show full respect to the Māoris and their heritage.

‘I’m really excited for it,’ said Glasgow Warriors star McDowall. ‘It’s something I’ve watched a lot with the All Blacks growing up. I used to watch rugby in the living room with my dad.

‘The last time I would have faced a Haka would have been in my Under-20s when we played New Zealand in the World Cup. I remember it being an unbelievable experience then.

‘Fergus Burke (former Kiwi, now Scotland fly-half) has been telling us this week that this is going to be a different prospect from what we will have seen with the All Blacks.

‘It’s going to be a proper Haka we’re facing that’s got a lot of heart in it and a lot of meaning for them as well. I think a lot of the boys are really excited about it.

‘We are just going to respect it, let it be, and really enjoy the moment. We’ve not got any plans in terms of marching it down or anything.

‘In terms of a career highlight, this will definitely be up there. I’ve been lucky enough to captain Scotland at Murrayfield in the past.

‘This will be up there as a very close second, if not matching it. Rugby is so special in New Zealand, we’ve had a taste of it this week, so it’s something I will cherish forever.

‘We have been told the stadium is sold-out. The Māoris are going to bring a long of tempo and skill, and also a lot of passion and physicality. It’s a great match to start the tour.’

After taking on the Maori All Blacks, Scotland will then travel to face Fiji in Suva next weekend, before returning to New Zealand to face Samoa in Auckland.

With the Māoris putting 50 points on a Japan XV in Tokyo last weekend, this should be a decent test for Gregor Townsend’s side.

McDowall believes it’s a huge chance for some of the fringe members of the squad to stake their claim for a place in Townsend’s long-term plans.

The Glasgow centre also believes his club-mate Ollie Smith can get back to his very best form after an injury nightmare over the past 18 months.

Smith hasn’t played for Scotland since the 2023 World Cup and, at that point, has established himself as a genuine rival for Blair Kinghorn’s place at full-back.

‘It is important we make a good start,’ said McDowall. ‘We’ve hopefully had some time to build some good cohesion.

‘Like we’ve talked about, we’re the ones who get to open up this tour and have our first crack together as a group and obviously playing against a team with the All Blacks name as well.

‘So obviously some younger guys in the group are maybe getting their first chance of wearing a Scotland shirt and I’m really excited to see how they go.

‘These are three tough matches we’re out here playing against three big physical teams and boys will know if they can lay a marker down here then it’ll go a long way with the coaches.

‘I am really played to see Ollie back as well. It never really showed how much it affected him because he’s such an upbeat person.

‘The way he just seamlessly fitted back into Glasgow set up like he hadn’t been away and has come to the end of the season playing some of his best rugby.

‘I think it was the World Cup the last time he pulled on a Scotland jersey and I know he’s massively excited to do it again on Saturday.

‘I think we’ve seen some of his performances for Glasgow at the end of the season that he’s getting back towards that level if not beyond it.’