Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has revealed that captain Sione Tuipulotu told him he hurt his knee after bumping into Blair Kinghorn in a passing drill the day before the 15–12 win over Australia.
Townsend was speaking at his post-match press conference at Murrayfield, filmed by Scotland Rugby News. Tuipulotu was ruled out before kick-off on Sunday and Rory Darge led the side.
Scotland play Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday 21 November, and Townsend said the centre will need a specialist’s view before anyone knows how long he is out.
READ MORE: Scotland vs Australia match report: Scotland hang on at Murrayfield
‘Didn’t feel something was right’
Asked whether the problem was one Tuipulotu had carried from the defeat to New Zealand, Townsend explained how it came about.
“I think he said he bumped into Blair Kinghorn just when we were doing some passing drills and just didn’t feel something was right,” Townsend explained.
“…So I’m glad we then got it checked out and he wasn’t available this week. We just need to find out what that means, whether it’s a week or two or more. I can’t say it just now.”
On whether Tuipulotu could face Japan, he added:
“I would think it’d be a challenge for next week. He needs to see a knee specialist as soon as possible.
“So whether we get that by Monday or Tuesday, just with the nature of his injury, it wasn’t clear-cut that this is a serious injury or not. So we need that advice over the next 24, 48 hours.”
Called in from the farm
Losing a centre the day before a Test forced a reshuffle. Tom Jordan moved to 12, which left Scotland needing midfield cover on the bench because Jordan also covers fly-half.
“Stafford was on his farm in the southwest, so he had to come in,” Townsend said of Stafford McDowall.
“We made a decision that if Tom goes into 12 then we need [a] 12 on the bench, just in case Tom [has] to move during the game, because he’s covering 10 as well.”
Townsend was pleased with how Jordan handled the switch.
“Tom was excellent when he played a couple of seasons ago. I thought he’s excellent today.”
Cummings a doubt too
Lock Scott Cummings also left the field early with a thigh problem.
“The medics don’t think it’s anything major. He felt his thigh strained, pulled, however we describe it,” Townsend said.
“Initially he’s had a scan, so it doesn’t look too bad, an ultrasound scan. He’ll probably get an MRI scan as well. But obviously he left the field today and felt he couldn’t continue, so that would make him a doubt for next week.”
Scrum-half Ben White was also replaced, which Townsend said was “a bit of both”, injury and tactical, after a knee problem he has had “over the last few weeks”.
READ MORE: Gregor Townsend hails Scotland defence as ‘one of the best’ after gritty win over Australia
Comments
No one has weighed in yet.
Be the first - what did you make of it?