Scotland may be without Finn Russell and Adam Hastings for the Autumn Nations Cup, after both stand-offs were forced off in the Guinness Six Nations win over Wales.
Scotland fly half injury woes
Russell kicked an early penalty for Scotland, before injuring his groin in a tackle as Wales prop Rhys Carre scored the game’s opening try and making way for Hastings, who had started the previous four championship matches after a falling out between Russell and Scotland boss Gregor Townsend earlier in the year.
The Glasgow Warriors playmaker landed a penalty of his own before twice injuring his shoulder in the second half at Parc y Scarlets, the second forcing him off and pressing Scotland into using captain Stuart Hogg as an emergency stand-off for the final 10 minutes.
Post-match, Townsend gave an update on the fitness of the playmaking duo.
“Finn is in more pain than Adam,” he said.
“He was involved in a tackle and his leg just went to the side. He felt something go in his groin/adductor. It’s similar to what Grant Gilchrist did over in Munster with Edinburgh, and a couple of days later he thought he would be ok but that wasn’t the case – he’s had to have surgery.
“Adam subluxed [popped] his shoulder twice in the second half. The first went back in quite quickly and he carried on, but the second one he had to be removed from the field of play. Hopefully it won’t keep him out too long.”
Scotland are back in action in a fortnight’s time, as they head to Italy for their opening Autumn Nations Cup fixture.
They do have cover within the squad at the moment, with Duncan Weir the third out-and-out stand-off in the group, while Hogg, James Lang and Blair Kinghorn all have experience of playing in the number 10 position at club level.
“Duncan Weir has been playing really well [for Worcester Warriors] and Jaco van der Walt [Edinburgh’s South-African becomes qualified for France or Fiji,” Townsend said, while adding: “We’ve got a week off to reflect on that and see where Finn and Adam are,” he added.
“We’re hoping their injuries aren’t serious but it does look quite bad just now.”
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