Grant left to sweat following ankle blow

RYAN GRANT’S World Cup hopes are hanging in the balance after he picked up an ankle injury in Scotland’s defeat to Ireland. The loose-head prop was removed on a stretcher early in the second-half after he was smothered in the tackle and bundled to the ground near the opposition try-line. Although Grant tweeted he was ‘feeling better’, Scotland head coach Vern Cotter said it was too early to assess the extent of his injury but confirmed he had all but ruled him out of the next warm-up match against Italy in Turin this weekend. An SRU spokesman said results of X-rays on his injured ankle would be known today. ‘We don’t know how he is yet,’ said Cotter. ‘We need to wait to be as accurate as we can on Ryan.’ Uncapped Edinburgh Rugby prop Allan Dell has been put on stand-by and is likely to start in his absence. Grant’s injury remains Cotter’s biggest concern after the match in Dublin. Tactically, however, he will be worried about the way his front row struggled against the Irish on Saturday. Jon Welsh and Fraser Brown, who picked up a hamstring strain, were found wanting at times and looked even shakier after Grant (pictured) went off to be replaced by Gordon Reid. Cotter admitted the scrum was below par but felt things would improve in time for the World Cup. ‘Jonathan Humphreys is the scrum coach and we have been working on several things,’ said the Kiwi. ‘We just need more game time and I think things will improve. ‘Mike Cusack got capped at tighthead today and we still have WP Nel who can take the field at some stage in that position. ‘While Ryan will not be with us for a week or so, or maybe longer, we have Allan Dell who has been training with us. ‘The boys are focusing on all facets of the game and we will certainly be having a look at the scrum. ‘Ireland are a good scrummaging team. They hurt Wales last week but we want to get better.’