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Three exit Scotland camp after bruising battle with Boks
By Josh Raisey
Scotland have confirmed that the Glasgow Warriors trio of Max Williamson, Jack Dempsey and Gregor Brown have left the squad injured following their loss to world champions South Africa on Sunday.
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Dempsey started at No 8 at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, but was replaced by Josh Bayliss on 63 minutes. He soon emerged with his right arm in a sling, with head coach Gregor Townsend revealing after the match that it was “not looking good at the moment.” Scotland have now confirmed that he sustained a shoulder injury, but have not disclosed the extent of the injury.
Second-row Williamson was a first-half replacement for the red-carded Scott Cummings, but picked up a hand injury in the process. Fellow second-row Gregor Brown is also out of the squad with a rib injury despite not being part of the matchday squad against the Boks.
Scotland have called up two players as replacements- Johnny Matthews and Alec Hepburn.
Curiously, Matthews, a hooker, and Hepburn, a loosehead, do not provide cover for the injured trio in the squad.
Matthews joined the squad before the Boks game after fellow hooker Dylan Richardson picked up a knock in training on Wednesday. Richardson recovered in time to take his place on the bench on Sunday and came on for the final quarter. But with a six-day turnaround before they face Portugal and first-choice hooker Ewan Ashman among many front-liners likely to be rested, Matthews will compete with Edinburgh’s Patrick Harrison for a place in the 23 against Portugal on Saturday.
Townsend commended his replacement lock Williamson after the match, particularly after only partially partaking in the team run on Saturday due to an illness.
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“Max Williamson was ill yesterday (Saturday),” Townsend said. “He only did a little part of the team run. We didn’t think he’d make it today. And then he’s on in the first half and he was outstanding, in terms of the effort he put in, and as part of the collective effort in the line-out. I thought our line-out defence – both winning the ball but also stopping their maul – was superb. Max, at 22-years-old, was a big part of that, producing jackals and carrying well.”
After sustaining stingers to both shoulders, Williamson was also in danger of leaving the field injured. But will no further locks on the bench, Townsend praised his lock’s “toughness” for staying on the field
“At one stage it looked like he was coming off and he showed his toughness to stay on. Obviously we didn’t have any second rows to come on. So I’m really proud of his effort and the effort of the forward pack.”
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