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'Freakish' training ground injury threatens Sione Tuipulotu's Six Nations
By Bryn Palmer
Scotland face an anxious wait to see if they will be without captain Sione Tuipulotu for the start of their Six Nations campaign after he suffered a “freakish” injury in training for Glasgow.
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The centre sustained what Warriors head coach Franco Smith believed to be a chest injury but he was still awaiting a final assessment from his medical staff following their 24-7 defeat by Harlequins in their final European Champions Cup pool fixture.
“He had an assessment this morning,” Smith said. “I don’t know the extent of it yet the feedback around the player will be given tonight and tomorrow. As I have been involved down here, I haven’t heard the final assessment yet.
“I think he might have injured his pec. It was a freakish injury. It was just something that happened. We weren’t suspicious about it, we just wanted to make sure it was nothing serious. But we will have more clarity tomorrow.”
With Scotland kicking off their Six Nations campaign against Italy in a fortnight, on 1 February, Smith acknowledged that any significant absence for the centre will impact both the national team and Glasgow.
“It is not just as a player but as a person as well in our environment,” said the head coach. He has a big input and brings a lot of confidence to people around him.
“I am sure it will be a loss for everyone if that is the case, but I can still think there is enough of the season left that he can still contribute. So we hope it is not such a serious injury.”
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Tuipulotu, who has been in sensational form for both club and country this season, is also widely expected to be a prime candidate for a place on this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
“All the players qualified to play in the Six Nations would love to be on that tour,” Smith added. “I think the way he has been playing has sown the seed that this is a quality person to have in your team. But the injury is obviously a setback.”
There were further injury concerns for both Smith and Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend as lock Scott Cummings – a first choice if fit – was forced off after just nine minutes at Twickenham Stoop holding his forearm, while replacement hooker Gregor Hiddleston hobbled off with what appeared to be an ankle injury.
“Scott Cummings and Gregor Hiddleston have shot off to the hospital to see if they can get some x-rays and scans done tonight, so hopefully tomorrow we’ll get a better idea of exactly what has happened,” Smith added. “We hope and pray that it is not that serious.”
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