Scotland could lose Strokosch for Six Nations

Scotland’s blindside flanker Alasdair Strokosch could miss the rest of the Six Nations Championship after he picked up an injury in Sunday’s match against Wales in Cardiff.

Strokosch was examined under the care of his club’s medical team in Gloucester today and was found to have fractured his hand.

“Recovery from such an injury takes typically between four to six weeks,” said Scotland team doctor James Robson.

Dr Robson also reported that wing Max Evans, who is on crutches and wearing an immobilising boot, was being sent for a scan when the team arrived back in Edinburgh this afternoon following the ankle injury that forced his substitution during the first-half of the match at the Millennium Stadium.

“Max will be seen by the specialist ankle surgeon John McKinley at Spire Murrayfield Hospital today and we will await a further update later this week,” Dr Robson noted.

Two other players will also require medical monitoring this week, back-row forward David Denton, who has a foot injury, and debutant prop Ed Kalman (neck pain).

The Scotland squad will reconvene next week for their third match of the championship – against France at Murrayfield on Sunday 26 February (kick-off 3pm).

Scotland have now lost nine of their 12 Six Nations matches under former England coach Andy Robinson and now face a battle to avoid the wooden spoon as face World Cup finalists France next – a team they’ve beaten just once in their last 12 Six Nations matches.