Scotland dealt hammer double injury blow for the rest of the Six Nations
Scotland's Luke Crosbie is tackled by Wales' Aaron Wainwright during the Guinness Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
Scotland’s injury list is quickly racking up, with Luke Crosbie and Richie Gray ruled out for the remainder of the Six Nations.
The two forwards both started Scotland’s opening game of the tournament but sustained injuries that have ended their involvement in the 2024 Six Nations.
Luke Crosbie and Richie Gray ruled out
Scotland have confirmed that a shoulder injury has ended flanker Crosbie’s Six Nations campaign while Gray sustained a bicep injury that will also see him miss the remaining four fixtures.
It’s a further blow to the side, who will also be without wing Darcy Graham and tighthead prop WP Nel for the round two fixture against France at Murrayfield.
Graham and Nel could well return to action in round three and beyond, with Scotland confirming that they are “recovering well from their injuries and they will resume training with Edinburgh this week.”
Meanwhile, Glasgow Warriors locks Max Williamson and Alex Samuel are training with the squad this week, along with scrum-half Jamie Dobie and flanker Euan Ferrie.
Different challenge
Looking ahead to the clash against France, head coach Gregor Townsend said that he is bracing for a different challenge than the one they faced against Wales.
“We know that next weekend is a totally different challenge,” he said.
“A team that has been one of the best in the world for a number of years on the back of a defeat, so they will be a big threat to us, and we will have to be better.
“You look at yourselves, and if you get things right and you manage to get into the opposition 22, then opportunities will arrive, especially with the players we have.
“If we can get the ball into Finn’s (Finn Russell) hands more often, the players outside him, then when you do have one on ones and you have space to attack, then we will get behind the defence.
“The second half (in Cardiff) we just didn’t have enough ball. We had hardly any ball until the end of the game.”
Scotland Six Nations squad
Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti, Andy Christie, Scott Cummings, Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge, Grant Gilchrist, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Alec Hepburn, Johnny Matthews, Elliot Millar-Mills, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Javan Sebastian, Pierre Schoeman, Sam Skinner, George Turner, Glen Young
Backs: Ben Healy, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Ross McCann, Harry Paterson, Ali Price, Cameron Redpath, Arron Reed, Kyle Rowe, Finn Russell, Kyle Steyn, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White