Blow for Scotland as injury rules out Wilson

SCOTLAND’S fading hopes of a Six Nations title challenge have suffered a major blow as it was confirmed yesterday that influential flanker Ryan Wilson will miss the rest of the tournament with a knee injury.

The 29-year-old back-row did not emerge for the second half of Scotland’s 22-13 defeat by Ireland on Saturday, and a medical update has confirmed that he is expected to miss the remaining three rounds of the championship due to ligament damage.

As a result, Scotland have sent Wilson (pictured) back to Glasgow Warriors for treatment, joining Edinburgh’s John Barclay on the long-term injury list as the No 8 continues to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon that looks set to keep him out of the entire Six Nations campaign.

Head coach Gregor Townsend is without a number of options in the back-row after being hit by an injury crisis, with Wilson and Barclay joined on the sidelines by Hamish Watson, Sam Skinner, Dave Denton, Blade Thomson, John Hardie and Magnus Bradbury.

Rob Harley, who came on initially for Jamie Ritchie as he received treatment before staying on for Wilson, and Newcastle’s Gary Graham are the likely candidates to come into the starting line-up for their French clash on Saturday, February 23.

Townsend is also sweating on the fitness of full-back Stuart Hogg and centre Huw Jones, who both suffered knocks at the weekend, but they will remain in camp this week to be seen by a specialist before a decision is made on their selection for the France clash.

Hogg lasted just 16 minutes before he left the field with a shoulder injury, while Jones injured his knee late in the match. (© Independent News Service)