Double fly-half blow for Scotland

Colin Newboult

Scotland’s Autumn Nations Cup hopes have suffered a major blow after Gregor Townsend confirmed stand-offs Finn Russell and Adam Hastings have both been ruled out with injury.

In a further setback, Glasgow Warriors playmaker Hastings is unlikely to feature at all during next year’s Six Nations campaign.

Injured against Wales

Racing 92 player Russell suffered a groin injury as he made his first start for the Dark Blues in over a year during Saturday’s win over Wales in Llanelli.

The 28-year-old was replaced by Hastings, 24, but he did not finish the 14-10 victory in the final game of this year’s delayed Six Nations either after suffering a dislocated shoulder.

“Finn we hope will be back in time for the Six Nations, but it’s unlikely Adam will be back before the end of that tournament,” head coach Townsend told BBC Scotland.

“At the very best he’ll come back at the end, but that will depend on how things go.

“It’s obviously disappointing to lose two quality players like Finn and Adam, who had both been playing well. However, this provides an opportunity to other players come into the team and lead our attack.”

The Scots kick off their Autumn Nations Cup campaign away to Italy a week on Saturday before also taking on France and Fiji in the one-off eight-team tournament.

Skipper Stuart Hogg ended last weekend’s victory – the Scots’ first in the principality since 2002 – in the 10 slot but the Exeter full-back has already admitted he would prefer to stay in the back three, meaning Worcester’s Duncan Weir could be handed a recall after his last start came against Ireland in March 2016.

Meanwhile, Saracens winger Sean Maitland has been drafted back into Scotland’s squad while Exeter scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne has been handed a recall.

Maitland was dropped by the Dark Blues ahead of the final Six Nations match against Wales last weekend after being among a number of players to breach coronavirus protocols while on Barbarians duty.

However, he returns alongside Hidalgo-Clyne, who is the only new addition to head coach Gregor Townsend’s original selection at the beginning of October.

Townsend added: “We welcome Sam Hidalgo-Clyne into camp after a successful time with Exeter and he will add further competition at scrum-half.”

 

Internationals