'It doesn't look good' - Hamish Watson's World Cup could be over

Reporting from Yokohama: Scotland flanker Hamish Watson could be out of the Rugby World Cup after a less than optimistic update from head coach Gregor Townsend suggested as much.

Watson went down during the first half of Scotland’s Pool game with Ireland at the Yokohama Stadium following a collision with Ireland loosehead Cian Healy.

Watson’s cries of pain could be heard via Wayne Barnes ref mic and the dynamic loose forward was subsequently removed from the pitch on a medical cart.

“He was our only injury concern. He had a knee injury and we will hopefully be able to give more information tonight if he can get a scan.

“Obviously it doesn’t look good if a player is stretchered off so we await further news.

“We always presumed there would be players that may miss the rest of the World cup after each game. The good news is that Jamie Ritchie (SCO) will be available for our next game against Samoa. He is back in full training now and will be available to play open-side if Hamish is ruled out. I thought Fraser Brown (SCO) did a good job when he came on too.

“Magnus Bradbury (SCO) is still in Japan and if Hamish was to miss out, then Magnus will be his replacement.”

Townsend also reflected on the feeling in Scotland camp.

“When you don’t play your best in your first game of a World Cup, then you will obviously be disappointed. We didn’t show the best version of ourselves tonight.

“We must play much better in our next three games if we are going to get out of our pool and progress into the quarter-finals and I believe we will be.”

“It is disappointing. We didn’t start with the energy, accuracy and aggression that is required to beat a team like Ireland. They took their chances well when they got into our 22.”

“If you give any team in world rugby a 15 to 20 point start, it is going to be very difficult to come back.

“They just converted mistakes into territory, and mistakes into points. They have a template we all know about and if you give them chances in your third of the field, you can’t afford to do that.”

“We need to win our next three matches, regardless of the result today. We have to bounce back and play a lot better against Samoa, Russia and Japan, who started the tournament well.”