Cotter has to make choices as Laidlaw is confirmed out

SCOTLAND will have to find a new captain and decide on a starting scrumhalf for their remaining Six Nations Championship, after it was announced that Greig Laidlaw has been ruled out by injury. The skipper hurt an ankle during the first half of the loss to France four days ago, and the injury was confirmed yesterday as ligament damage.

Ali Price of Glasgow took over from Laidlaw at scrum-half in the Stade de France, and is now in a straight fight with Warriors team-mate Henry Pyrgos for the No.9 jersey against Wales a week on Saturday. Price has been in excellent form in some club games this season while Pyrgos is only just back from injury, but the latter is more experienced in both his position and as a leader, being joint captain of Glasgow this season along with Jonny Gray.

Pyrgos could play in the Warriors’ PRO12 game in Ulster on Saturday if it is thought he needs more game time to improve his match fitness, but Price is expected to be rested.

John Barclay took over as captain in the 22-16 defeat by France when Laidlaw was forced off, but he too then had to leave the field because of injury, with Gray taking over. Gray also attended the post-match press conference as captain, along with head coach Vern Cotter.

Gray is more sure of his place in the second row alongside his older brother Richie than Barclay is of his in the back row. The Scarlets forward only started against the French because Ryan Wilson was ruled out by an elbow infection, Wilson having started the opening match against Ireland alongside Josh Strauss and Hamish Watson.

“Greig Laidlaw has been ruled out of the remainder of the Six Nations with an ankle injury,” the announcement from Scottish Rugby said. “A scan undertaken at his club, Gloucester, confirmed the clinical suspicion that the 58-timescapped scrum-half sustained ankle ligament damage midway through the first half of Sunday’s match against France. Laidlaw will see a specialist later in the week to determine the best course of management and estimated time out of the sport.”