FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 warm up - Scotland v Italy - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - July 29, 2023 Scotland's Darcy Graham in action with Italy's Tommaso Menoncello Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo
(Reuters) - Scotland are hoping both talismanic flyhalf Finn Russell and flying winger Darcy Graham could yet be included in their team to take on England in Saturday’s Six Nations clash, assistant coach Peter Horne said on Monday.
Graham and Russell had a horror clash of heads in Scotland’s 32-18 loss to Ireland eight days ago, with the winger carried off on a stretcher 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 flyhalf was unable to remember certain details around team plays.
But both players could make the line-up for Saturday.
“They’re both progressing well through the protocols,” said Horne in a virtual press conference from the team’s training camp in Spain on Monday.
“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,” Horne told reporters.
“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. 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.”
Scotland earlier on Monday added scrumhalf 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 on Friday and ruled out of the England clash.
Scrumhalf George Horne sustained a facial injury during Glasgow’s URC victory over Dragons on Sunday and will only be able to join up with the Scottish squad if club doctors agree.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar)
