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McInally 'in France' following 2 injuries in Scotland camp
By Ian Cameron
Former Scotland hooker Stuart McInally has been flown out to France by the SRU although he has not joined Gregor Townsend's official camp in Nice.
McInally has travelled out to the host nation as injury cover for Ewan Ashman, who is recovering from an injury picked up in training this week.
While the 33-year-old has not joined the squad, he has been asked to travel to France as "a precaution".
"We picked up two injuries at training. Ewan and George Horne both got injured. They both had concussion so they will be ruled out for this weekend.
"It's important that Stuart came into the country, just in case we have another injury to a hooker today or as we get closer to the game. It's a specialised position, the front row.
"There are certain rules and regulations he has to abide by. He can't train with the team. He's here as a precaution. We hope that Dave and George get through today's training and the weekend and also that Ewan makes a full and quick recovery."
The magnitude of the opening game against reigning world champions South Africa is not lost on Townsend.
"It's the biggest opportunity you'll get; a World Cup game playing the world champions. We believe we've been building to our best performance.
"Really this is where it will count for our players to deliver what they have been delivering in training and what they've been delivering in other games we've played this year."
"That's the job of us as coaches, of the senior players - players that have been there before - to be calm and to calm others.
"We'll see it tonight watching the opening ceremony and a cracking game to start off the tournament. I'm sure that the players will feel that sense of adrenaline, nerves, excitement as we get closer to kick-off."
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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