SCOTLAND’S MATT FAGERSON has been ruled out of their final Six Nations match with title hopefuls France on Friday due to an ankle injury.
Gregor Townsend had named his team for the game on Wednesday, but the 22-year-old number eight has now been withdrawn and replaced in the starting line-up by Nick Haining, with Ryan Wilson coming onto the replacements bench for the clash in Paris.
Should Wilson get some game time he will win his 50th cap.
“Matt suffered an ankle injury in our final training session this week before we headed to Paris,” said Townsend in a Scottish Rugby Union statement.
“It is disappointing for Matt, who has been playing consistently well throughout the championship.
“Nick now has the opportunity from the start to show his abilities in what will be a great challenge for our forward pack.”
Townsend added they had been fortunate to be able to call up someone of Wilson’s experience to bolster the replacements bench.
“We were able to call on Ryan at short notice given Glasgow Warriors had already conducted two Covid tests this week which meant he was safe to travel and join up with the squad yesterday afternoon,” said Townsend.
The championship decider has been postponed since late-February after a Covid-19 outbreak in the French camp.
France will lift their first trophy since 2010 if they can score four tries or more in a victory of more than 20 points on Friday.
If they fail then Wales, who suffered their only defeat at the hands of France last Saturday, will be crowned champions.
It is 22 years since Scotland last beat France in Paris, with fly-half Townsend one of the stars in a 36-22 victory.
Scotland (to play France)
15. Stuart Hogg (captain)
14. Darcy Graham
13. Chris Harris
12. Sam Johnson
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell
9. Ali Price
1. Rory Sutherland
2. George Turner
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Sam Skinner
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Richie
7. Hamish Watson
8. Nick Haining
Replacements:
16. David Cherry
17. Oli Kebble
18. Simon Berghan
19. Alex Craig
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Scott Steele
22. Adam Hastings
23. Huw Jones
He’s not as disappointed as some on relation to how far off they are? They are miles off. No offence to Munster but they are an average,though very gutsy and committed side,and they have hammers Leinster twice in a row now. I do agree that they haven’t had any continuity with combinations,especially from 9-13,and hopefully when the likes of OBrien, Healy, Moore, Teo, McFadden etc come back then there will be a big improvement.
I must take the opportunity to praise Matt O’Connor for the huge improvement in Guinness Pro12 teams. Ever since he arrived at Leinster, every other team has greatly improved. Teams, that two years ago were almost brushed aside by Leinster, have now reached the heights that Leinster once inhabited alone.
Treviso have improved, Munster have improved, Edinburgh have improved, Scarlets have improved, Dragons have improved, Zebra have improved, Connacht (brilliant tonight, by the way) have improved..
In fact, they have all improved so much that Leinster has great difficulty taking on any of them.
By extension, Wasps and Harlequins have shown just how brilliant they are too due to you Matt.
I can hardly wait to see how much Castres get better when they arrive at the RDS soon. They will build statues in your image all over the town.
Matt, you have done European rugby a great service. They have all reached and surpassed Leinster this season thanks to your input at Leinster and everywhere else.
Thank you Matt and Happy New year!.
(and also to Mr Caputo, the news paper seller. Your influence on all other teams has been exceptional)