The Scotsman

Scotland duo victorious on Top 14 return

- Mark Atkinson

Scotland duo Blair Kinghorn and Ben White were both victorious at the weekend as they returned to domestic action with their French clubs.

Full-back Kinghorn, who recently returned to fitness after a knee injury, played 65 minutes and kicked eight points for Toulouse as they easily swatted aside Castres 33-6atstadeer­nest-wallon, whilescrum-halfwhitew­as on the pitch for 64 minutes as Toulon recorded a 44-22 homewinove­rperpignan­at Stade Felix-mayol.

Toulouse are currently joint-top of the Top 14 alongside Stade Francais, while Toulon are in fifth place after their triumph over the league’s second bottom team.

Both Kinghorn and White starred for Scotland in their 30-21 Calcutta Cup triumph over England last weekend and Gregor Townsend, the national team head coach, will hope both players report for internatio­nal duty at the start of this week showing no ill-effects from their exertions in France ahead of Scotland’s next match away at Italy in Rome on Saturday.

The duo were the only two non-scottish Rugby contracted players to be in action over the weekend, withthegal­lagherprem­iership idle and the SRU able to manage the game-time of Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors’ Scotland stars.

Meanwhile,marcussmit­h and Alex Mitchell have returned to the England squad ahead of Saturday’s clash with Ireland.

Harlequins fly-half Smith is yet to feature in this year’s championsh­ip due to a calf issue, while Northampto­n scrum-half Mitchell twisted his knee in training after starting the victories over Italy and Wales.

 ?? ?? Blair Kinghorn: In good form
Blair Kinghorn: In good form

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