Maitland out of squad after virus breach
SEAN MAITLAND will not be part of the Scotland squad for this week’s game against Wales after being deemed unavailable for selection due to Covid protocols. The winger was one of a group of Barbarians players who breached the rules last week by going out for dinner in London, leading to the cancellation of the match between the invitational side and England.
In a statement issued last night, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend explained that Maitland had effectively ruled himself out this week, and declined to say whether the player would be subject to further disciplinary action.
Scotland have a week off after Saturday’s Six Nations Championship match in Llanelli, but then have four Nations Cup games on successive weekends.
“We are working hard to ensure our training camp remains secure in terms of Covid protocols and as such Sean’s actions last week with the Barbarians mean that he won’t be able to re- join our group now and we will review the situation in the coming weeks,” Townsend said.
Glasgow Warriors winger Ratu Tagive has been called into the squad as cover, although it now seems likely that Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe will keep their places for Saturday’s game against Wales, with Blair Kinghorn, full- back in Friday night’s win over Georgia, giving way to Stuart Hogg, the returning captain.
Hogg and his Exeter Chiefs team- mates Jonny Gray and Sam Skinner have now joined up with Gregor Townsend’s squad, having been absent on club duty last week when they won the Premiership final against Wasps.
Hooker Ewan Ashman, who was training with Scotland last week, has now gone back to Sale Sharks. Glasgow backrow forward Matt Fagerson, who injured an ankle in the 48- 7 victory against the Georgians, will continue to be monitored by the Scotland
medical staff. If he is unable to play against Wales his place at No 8 will go to either Nick Haining or Cornell du Preez, both of whom came off the bench on Friday night.
While the squad were relatively happy with their eight- try win over Georgia, the message from the camp this week is that a significant step up will be required against Wales. Having said that, Graham for one still believes that the warm- up game offered worthwhile preparation for the Six Nations match.
“It was a good win and they’re big, physical men,” said the Edinburgh back, who scored two tries. “Wales are the exact same. It’s going to be a tough game down there, and Wales will attack a lot more than the Georgians did, and we probably won’t see as much ball as we did on Friday night.
“So we’ll have to get our heads round that defensively and get up for that game, because we will have a lot more defending to do.
“Wales have got a really good defence, so we’re only going to get a few chances, so we’re going to have to really take them when they’re on.
“Two years ago on my first cap we didn’t do that – we had a few chances but we never executed them and we ended up losing the game. So when we get our chances on Saturday we’re going to have to be clinical and finish them off.”