I crocked the captain
Dunbar’s anguish over freak Laidlaw injury
Scotland centre Dunbar revealed he initially had no idea of what he had done when he fell back on to Laidlaw’s ankle in the first half in Paris. With back row forward Josh Strauss also out injured after being hit in the kidneys with a stray boot in the same match, it
will be a depleted Scotland team that take the field at a sold-out Murrayfield on Saturday against Wales. But, although they will not be at full-strength, Dunbar is confident his team can get their Six Nations campaign back on track with a victory. ‘Greig felt the pressure on his knee and leg and ankle,’ said the Glasgow Warriors star. ‘It is just one of these freak things that happens. I had no idea I had done it or what I had done until later. ‘It is a big loss losing Greig and Josh, but it gives others the opportunity to come in and show what they can do. We can still get a result against Wales. ‘Everybody is starting to step up and organise everything out there on the park. We can do that against Wales as a team.’ Dunbar is confident that whoever replaces Laidlaw will be able to cope with the pressure. ‘Both my Glasgow teammates Henry (Pyrgos) and Ali (Price) are in the frame to replace Greig,’ said the 26-year-old. ‘Henry is co-captain at Glasgow, he’s very good at organising and, when we get front-foot ball, he’s very good at sniping. His delivery is good. ‘He had a few niggles at the start of the season, but he’s playing well now. ‘Ali adds something different. He’s quite nippy at the breakdown, so whoever gets the chance to start will do well.’ Dunbar is one of three players who have been passed fit by the Scotland medical team after picking up head knocks in the defeat to France. Others include centre Mark Bennett and hooker Fraser Brown. It is also expected Sean Maitland, who picked up a rib injury playing for Saracens last weekend, will be available for selection. If he doesn’t make it, Tim Visser of Harlequins will come on to the wing in his place. ‘There were a few bruises and stuff after the France game, but we’ve started the build-up to the Wales match well and can’t wait to get out there,’ continued Dunbar. ‘I am absolutely fine to play. It was just after the game I got a few symptoms sitting around the changing room and when we went back to the hotel. I’ve been through the whole protocol now and it’s all good. ‘Their midfield is made up of big ball-carriers and they have some in the pack as well, so we need to get off the line and stop them getting momentum. We were disappointed last week in Paris, but we want to bounce back against Wales.’