Meet the All Black named after William Wallace

Wallace Sititi will play blindside flanker for New Zealand at Murrayfield on Saturday

Autumn Nations Series: Scotland v New Zealand

Where: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh When: Saturday 8 November Time: 15:10 GMT

Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio Scotland & BBC Sounds, plus follow live on the BBC Sport website & app

New Zealand back row Wallace Sititi needs little education on Scotland. After all, he is named after one of the country's great historical figures, William Wallace.

The idea came from his father, the former Samoa international Lemalu 'Semo' Sititi, who was playing in Scotland for the Border Reivers when his son was born in 2002.

Wallace, one of Scotland's best-known historical figures, led the Scots to victory against an English army of King Edward I at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297, as part of a struggle for independence.

"At the time when I was supposed to be born, we were based here in Scotland," explained Sititi Jnr, who will start against Scotland in Saturday's Autumn Nations Series meeting on the blindside flank.

"A few weeks before that, my mum's dad fell sick, so she flew back to Samoa to look after him and ended up having me there, while my dad was stuck here.

"He named me after William Wallace because he loved the movie Braveheart. My parents thought William was a bit too common as a first name, so ended up with Wallace."

The All Blacks come to Murrayfield looking to preserve a 120-year-old unbeaten record against Scotland, and the occasion will be extra special for Sititi.

"It's a strong connection for myself and my family," he said. "It's been a special feeling being back here and experiencing it.

"I think two or three weeks after my birth, my mum flew back here, so I spent the early years of my life here. Don't remember too much, so in a sense this is my first time in Scotland.

"It's been a special week leading into a big game, and yeah, just excited. My first time against the Scottish as well."

In a match featuring a number of intriguing subplots, the battle of the 10s – Finn Russell v Beauden Barrett – is perhaps the most fascinating.

The All Blacks legend has seen and done it all as a World Cup-winner and a two-times World Player of the Year, but has a healthy respect for his opposite number.

"I really admire Finn, always have," said Barrett, who will play his 143rd Test on Saturday.

"I just love the way he plays with freedom, almost like he's not worried about anything. I guess that's probably why you see the brilliance, it's like he's got nothing to lose and he just plays with zero care.

"That's how I play my best footy too, having that expectation or that feeling of freedom and obviously he epitomises that."