Scotland co-captain misses out against Wales while star back suffers knee injury

Colin Newboult
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Rory Darge for Scotland during Rugby World Cup clash with Ireland 2023.

Rory Darge for Scotland during Rugby World Cup clash with Ireland 2023.

Scotland head to Cardiff without the services of full-back Blair Kinghorn or co-captain Rory Darge after Gregor Townsend selected his side to face Wales.

The flanker has still not fully recovered from the injury he sustained in late December, while Kinghorn has picked up a knee injury.

As a result, the full-back, who is seen as the long-term heir to Stuart Hogg, will miss the encounter against Wales and the match with France.

Back-row’s prognosis

There is more positive news on Darge, however, who will be available for their next Six Nations clash, which takes place at Murrayfield on February 10.

With Darge absent, former skipper Jamie Ritchie shifts to openside with the talented Luke Crosbie starting on the blindside. Joining them in the Scotland back-row is Matt Fagerson, who is preferred to Jack Dempsey.

Finn Russell therefore takes on the sole responsibility as skipper, with him and Darge named co-captains when the squad was named.

The maverick playmaker partners Ben White at half-back and outside them are centres Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones.

It will only be the third occasion Tuipulotu and Jones have played since the Rugby World Cup with a combination of injuries and rotation at Glasgow Warriors often keeping them apart.

Meanwhile, in the back three, Kyle Rowe takes Kinghorn’s place at full-back, despite only starting there once at professional level, and combines with Kyle Steyn and Duhan van der Merwe.

Among the forwards, there is plenty of experience in the front five with Scott Cumming and Richie Gray the lock duo, packing down behind Zander Fagerson, George Turner and Pierre Schoeman.

On the bench, Alec Hepburn, who has six England caps, could make his Scotland debut alongside another uncapped prop, the English-born Elliot Millar-Mills.

Ewan Ashman, Sam Skinner, Dempsey, George Horne, Ben Healy and Cameron Redpath complete the 23.

Scotland’s team to face Wales

Scotland: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (c), 9 Ben White, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Jamie Ritchie, 6 Luke Crosbie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 George Horne, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Cameron Redpath

Date: Saturday, February 3
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

READ MORE: Wales name two uncapped players in callow 23 as Warren Gatland aims dig at Scotland

Internationals Blair Kinghorn Rory Darge

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