Scotland face second-row reshuffle after worst fears confirmed

Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, Scotland’s starting locks in Saturday’s sensational 50-40 win over France, have been ruled out of the fifth round clash against Ireland in Dublin.

Brown and British and Irish Lions international Cummings sustained calf and hamstring injuries, respectively, and were replaced in the 34th and 52nd minute of the highest-scoring match in the history of Scotland/France rivalry.

Adam Hastings (shoulder), Nathan McBeth (ankle), Elliot Millar Mills (groin) Duhan van der Merwe (ankle), have also been cut from the squad and returned to their clubs for further assessment on injuries. Meanwhile, Seb Stephen is no longer required and has gone back to Glasgow.

Edinburgh’s Grant Gilchrist, who came on for Brown, looks certain to occupy of one the starting spots and have a new partner alongside him in the Scotland engine room.

Gregor Townsend appears to be faced with a choice between Glasgow trio, Alex Craig, Alex Samuel and Max Williamson, neither of whom have started with Gilchrist before, meaning Scotland will field their 15th different starting lock combination since 2024. That is unless Townsend opts to go with the tried and tested veteran, Jonny Gray.

Samuel is one of the quartet of players who’ve been called into Scotland’s squad today in the lead up to Saturday’s Dublin showdown.

Uncapped loose forward Euan Ferrie, prop Alec Hepburn and wing Arron Reed have also joined the Dark Blue ranks. Reed comes as a direct replacement for van der Merwe, whilst also covering for red-hot winger Kyle Steyn, who suffered a deep cut in his leg in the win over France.

Scotland haven’t issued any kind of update on Steyn, who has beaten more defenders than any other player in the championship, but his continued presence in the squad, for now at least, will be welcomed by Scotland fans dreaming of the Triple Crown and possibly a first Six Nations title.

Updated Scotland squad:

Forwards (22)

Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (34)
Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (16)
Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (21)
Dave Cherry – Vannes (18)
Alex Craig – Glasgow Warriors (6)
Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (38)
Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (32)
Freddy Douglas – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (63)
Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (80)
Euan Ferrie – Glashow Warriors (uncapped)
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (87)
Jonny Gray – Union Bordeaux Bègles (81)
Alec Hepburn – Scarlets (6)
Gregor Hiddleston – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
D’arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (6)
Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (3)
Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (48)
Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (47)
George Turner – Harlequins (54)
Murphy Walker – Glasgow Warriors (6)
Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (12)

Backs (16)

Fergus Burke – Saracens (3)
Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (54)
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (44)
Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (11)
Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (62)
Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (16)
Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (64)
Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (16)
Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (5)
Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (93)
Kyle Rowe- Glasgow Warriors (16)
Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (12)
Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (32)
Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (37) – CAPTAIN
Ben White – Toulon (35)
Gus Warr – Sale Sharks (2)