Turner absence intensifies Scots’ front-row woes
Scotland’s Six Nations injury crisis has deepened after it was revealed yesterday that hooker George Turner is out for eight weeks and will miss the tournament.
The 25-year-old suffered a knee ligament injury in Glasgow’s European Champions Cup win over Exeter Chiefs at Scotstoun on Saturday and the development adds fresh strain on Scotland’s depleted resources at hooker in particular and more widely in the front row.
Turner was in contention to back up Edinburgh’s Stuart
Mcinally on the bench for the opening fixture against Wales in Cardiff a week on Saturday but now joins longterm absentee Ross Ford and Fraser Brown, who has been stood down after suffering a series of head injuries, on the sidelines.
Centre Alex Dunbar is undergoing return-to-play concussion protocols after suffering a head knock against Exeter and has not joined up with Gregor Townsend’s squad as they began a three-day training camp at the Oriam centre yesterday.
Lock Richie Gray has also remained in France with his club Toulouse as he nurses a calf complaint. It is not yet known when the 28-yearold will make the trip to Edinburgh.
Scotland forwards coach Dan Mcfarland said: “George is out with a medial knee ligament injury. So he’s going to be out for around eight weeks.
“It’s not [ideal] for us or George. He has obviously been doing well. He came back from his ban, played at the week and is now out with an unfortunate injury.i feel really sorry for him. He’s gutted.”
Veteran Edinburgh hooker Neil Cochrane, 34, has been called into the squad as cover for Mcinally and Scott Lawson of Newcastle Falcons, who has returned to the Scotland fold threeand-a-half years since his last cap.
“Straight away. Like a duck to water,” said Mcfarland when asked how Lawson had fitted in after such a long spell away from the international scene.
“He was really good at training today. It was 2014 he last played but we’ve been watching him since we came in as a coaching team. Scott’s been playing really well. The lads were down in Newcastle watching him against Exeter. He had a great game off the bench there.
“Lots of energy, set pieces excellent. He brings a lot of experience to the squad. There will be guys who will relish getting to work with Scott.
“But there is no doubt he is here because he wants to play. We wouldn’t have him if he wasn’t desperate to get on the pitch.
“Cochrane helped us out in November. I was really impressed with Neil’s attitude. He brings a lot of experience too and there is a calmness to him. He’s able to give information and advice. He’s been around the block.”
On Gray, Mcfarland said: “Richie has a calf issue. He’s in France at the moment. We’re hoping he’ll be joining us at some point in the near future.”