Scotland injury latest with key duo major doubts for Ireland

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend <i>(Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)</i>
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend (Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)
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Gregor Townsend was left counting the cost of the win over France, as he confirmed a key duo are major doubts for the trip to Ireland next weekend.

It sounds likely Townsend may be without both starting locks, Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, as Scotland eye a shot at the Six Nations title for the first time.

Brown was forced off in the first half with a hamstring problem while Cummings limped off in the second half of Scotland's stunning 50-40 victory with a calf injury.


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And the Scotland coach confirmed both men face a race against time to be available for the trip to Dublin, in which Townsend's team will also compete for the Triple Crown as well as a shot at the title.

"Gregor Brown's got a hamstring issue so I would think he wouldn't turn that round and Scott Cummings is a calf.

"Sometimes these can be neural and what they feel is a torn calf or a torn hamstring might not be what we fear but it looks like certainly Gregor will be out and we'll see about Scott over the next few days."

Scotland's injury woes appeared to deepen in the second half when Huw Jones and Kyle Steyn were both forced off.

However, Townsend was more optimistic about their chances of being fit for the trip to Dublin.

"Kyle Steyn just told me he’ll be fine," he said, while singling out the Glasgow Warriors captain for praise after a Player of the Match display.

Kyle Steyn was forced off in the second half (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

Townsend added: "I hope he's right because he's in a pretty good run of form. He was amazing today again.

"The best thing he did, it involved his injury. That hustle back to try to stop a French try. Whether there were or two forward passes in there, we don't know. But just that effort for your team mate. That was great to see."

Asked about the specifics of the injury to Steyn, who left the field on a medical buggy, Townsend confirmed he'd suffered a deep cut to his leg.

"Let's hope it heals," he said.

And on Jones, Townsend suggested he was removed as a precaution.

"He's obviously had an Achilles injury in the past. He was feeling it a little bit. He stayed on and then we decided to take him off."

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