Gray injury another blow for Townsend
Scotland colossus Richie Gray is a doubt for the Six nations opener against Wales after the second row limped out of action for toulouse at the weekend.
and head coach Gregor townsend was dealt further bad news ahead of the cardiff clash on February 3 with centre alex dunbar sidelined after a concussion and back-up hooker George turner ruled out of the entire tournament with kneeligament damage.
townsend named toulouse lock Gray in his original 40-man training squad after he returned to action following a long lay-off after back surgery.
But he picked up a calf injury in action for his club last weekend that has prevented him travelling from France to join up with the rest of the Scotland squad at the oriam training complex in Edinburgh.
Scotland assistant head coach dan McFarland admitted he did not know when Gray would be available — if at all — to join up with the rest of the squad to prepare for the game in cardiff.
‘Will we consider Richie for Wales?’ said McFarland. ‘at the moment I can’t answer that because at this stage we just don’t know. He is still in France but if he is fit, which we hope he will be, we will consider him.’
McFarland said Gray was hugely disappointed at picking up a calf injury on club duty with toulouse in their 28-21 European challenge cup win over Sale Sharks at the weekend.
the 28-year-old missed the autumn tests with a back injury but was being pencilled in to resume his second-row partnership with brother Jonny for Scotland after successfully returning to action with his club side.
‘We are really disappointed for Richie when you think of all the time he took to come back from his injury,’ said McFarland.
‘He has played the last two or three games following his back problem and has been looking athletic. He was getting round the park as if he had never been away.
‘there were bits of his game he was looking to improve and we had been in contact with him over those things. He was looking in a really good position to step on.
‘We would have liked to have seen him play this weekend for toulouse but it now looks like he won’t. that is a disappointment.’
Scotland do have strength in depth in the second row with brother Jonny and Edinburgh duo Grant Gilchrist and Ben toolis all in good form.
there was further bad news on the injury front with reserve hooker turner, who was hobbling around the Scotland training camp yesterday in a protective boot, set to miss the tournament because of knee-ligament damage.
turner was injured just eight minutes into Glasgow Warriors’ win over Exeter chiefs in the champions cup at the weekend. He is replaced in the squad by 34-year-old uncapped Edinburgh hooker neil cochrane, who will compete with 36-year-old newcastle veteran Scott lawson for a place on the Scotland bench in cardiff.
Edinburgh hooker Stuart McInally will start against Wales after impressing in the autumn test series.
‘George is out with a medial knee-ligament injury for around eight weeks,’ said the Scotland assistant head coach. ‘George has obviously been doing well. He came back from his ban, played at the weekend for Glasgow and is now out with an unfortunate injury. I feel really sorry for him. He’s gutted.
‘But we have Stuart playing well and we have Scott lawson already here. Scott hasn’t played (for Scotland) since 2014 but he has taken to things again like a duck to water.’
centre dunbar is another major injury doubt after coming off with concussion during Glasgow’s European win over Exeter.
‘alex did not train today and he is not with us,’ said McFarland. ‘We are hoping he will be joining us at some stage. alex is in the return to play protocol after his head knock.’
on a more positive note Greig laidlaw, who is going head to head with ali Price for the no9 jersey, took part in a full training session indoors at the oriam.
laidlaw has not played for Scotland since picking up an ankle injury against France in Paris during last year’s Six nations.
He did return for clermont auvergne at the start of the season but broke his leg ahead of the autumn tests.
‘Greig trained today with us and looked good,’ said the Scotland assistant. ‘He was really happy to get on the pitch even for that short period last weekend for clermont. He had a couple of kicks at goal and felt the atmosphere of being back on the pitch.
‘He might have just played a few minutes last week after a while out but I can’t remember Greig’s fitness ever being an issue. the specialist gave him the all clear and he is in contention again.’