Scotland working on having Finn Russell, Darcy Graham back for England clash
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Scotland's Darcy Graham was carried off on a stretcher following a clash of heads with Finn Russell.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MADRID – Scotland are hoping both talismanic fly-half Finn Russell and flying winger Darcy Graham could be included in their team to take on England in their Six Nations clash on Feb 22, assistant coach Peter Horne said.
Graham and Russell had a horror clash of heads in Scotland’s 32-18 loss to Ireland on Feb 9. The winger was stretchered off after lengthy on-field treatment and given little chance of being ready for the showdown at Twickenham.
Russell passed his head injury assessment after the collision and could have been permitted to return to the field, but Scotland elected not to bring him back on after the fly-half was unable to remember certain details around team plays.
But both players could make the line-up for the clash against England.
“They’re both progressing well through the protocols,” said Horne in a virtual press conference from the team’s training camp in Spain on Feb 17.
“I think, depending on how that goes over the next couple of days, there’s a chance that they could both play. They’re not in full training, but we did some light skills today and they were both involved in that.
“Last week they were working with the physios and the doctor, getting through the early stages of it. And then today they joined in for a bit of skills and things. We’ll see how they are off the back of that.”
A return to the team for the duo would be a boost to Scotland’s hopes after their loss to Ireland.
“They’ve still got certain things that they need to tick off,” added Horne. “There won’t be any risks taken. I’m sure the medics are right on top of it.
“Depending on how the next couple of days go, they’ve both got a chance of playing on Saturday.”
Earlier on Feb 17, Scotland added scrum-half Ali Price, winger Ross McCann and centre Cameron Redpath to their squad.
Their inclusion comes after centre Matt Currie was concussed during Edinburgh’s match against Zebre in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Feb 14 and ruled out of the England clash.
Scrum-half George Horne suffered a facial injury during Glasgow’s URC victory over Dragons on Feb 16 and will only be able to join up with the Scottish squad if club doctors agree. REUTERS
