Scotland winger Darcy Graham will be sidelined for the upcoming autumn Test against South Africa due to a concussion sustained during a stellar performance against Fiji. The 27-year-old made his first appearance for Scotland in over a year, having previously missed the Six Nations and summer tour because of injuries.
In a remarkable display at Murrayfield, Graham scored four of Scotland’s eight tries in a commanding 57-17 victory over Fiji, propelling himself to second place on Scotland’s all-time top try-scorers list. He now trails only his teammate Duhan van der Merwe.
Despite his impressive performance, Graham was removed from the match after 65 minutes and subsequently failed the head injury assessment (HIA) protocols leading up to the game against South Africa.
Scotland’s head coach, Gregor Townsend, provided insights on Graham’s recovery plan. He stated that Graham will refrain from any activity for the next three days before beginning a graduated return to play. If all goes well and he feels fit, there is potential for him to return for the match against Portugal on 16 November.
The team faces additional challenges with Kyle Steyn also unavailable. However, Townsend noted that Kyle Rowe’s hamstring injury is not as severe as initially feared, indicating that Rowe has a chance to play this week.
“After the game, we all thought he might miss several matches, but he’s recovering well,” Townsend mentioned regarding Rowe’s condition.
In positive news for the squad, they will welcome back Toulouse full-back Blair Kinghorn and Sale Sharks winger Arron Reed, alongside vice-captain Finn Russell.
As Scotland prepares for a challenging encounter with South Africa, the absence of key players like Graham will test their depth and resilience. The return of injured players could offer much-needed support as they aim to build on their recent win.
The upcoming matches present an opportunity not only to solidify their squad but also to demonstrate their capability against formidable opponents in the international arena. With strategic adjustments and hopeful recoveries, Scotland looks forward to continuing their journey in this autumn series.
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