With the Six Nations championship due to begin in just 11 days’ time, Scotland’s preparations have been hit by a new series of setbacks, with three players picking up injuries that threaten their involvement in some or all of the tournament.
The most serious involves George Turner, the Glasgow Warriors hooker, who made his return from a four-week suspension against Exeter Chiefs last weekend but lasted only a few minutes before being taken off with a knee problem that has since been diagnosed as medial ligament damage. Turner is expected to be out of action for eight weeks — a period that covers the duration of the championship almost exactly.
Alex Dunbar, the Warriors centre, was also injured in the Exeter match. Dunbar suffered a head knock and is now going through the standard return-to-play protocols and has not yet joined the Scotland squad at their Oriam training base near Edinburgh. Richie Gray, the Toulouse lock who missed most of last year’s international fixtures with a back problem, is another absentee, having picked up a calf problem.
The Scots will open the Six Nations on February 3 against Wales in Cardiff, where they have not won since 2002. However, Dan McFarland, the Scotland forwards coach, stressed that problems provided chances for others to step into the breach.
“It’s really unfortunate for guys who can’t play, but for others it’s a great opportunity,” said McFarland.
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Neil Cochrane, the Edinburgh hooker, has been called in to take Turner’s place in the squad. The uncapped Cochrane turned 34 earlier this month. Were he to play in the Six Nations he would become the oldest player to make his debut for Scotland, since Andrew Ker, who was 33 when he made his first appearance in 1988.