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Hamish Watson: Edinburgh & Scotland flanker to miss Six Nations games with broken hand

Last updated on .From the section Scottish Rugbycomments80

Hamish Watson carries the ball for Scotland against Argentina
Watson has been a key figure in Scotland's progress in the past two years
Six Nations: Scotland v Italy
Venue: Murrayfield Date: Saturday, 2 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMT
Coverage: TV, radio and text coverage on the BBC

Edinburgh flanker Hamish Watson is set to miss at least the first half of Scotland's Six Nations campaign, head coach Gregor Townsend has confirmed.

The open-side suffered a fracture to his hand in Edinburgh's Champions Cup win over Montpellier last Friday.

Scotland open their campaign with home games against Italy on 2 February and Ireland a week later.

"To lose someone like Hamish is disappointing," said Townsend, who hopes Watson may still feature.

"But it is an opportunity for someone else."

Newcastle's John Hardie and Gary Graham are other open-side options, with blind-side Jamie Ritchie able to play on both flanks.

Watson, 27, has started 11 of Scotland's last 12 Tests and been in superb form again this season, helping Edinburgh into the quarter-finals in Europe.

He joins a casualty list that now numbers 20 in all,external-link including former captain John Barclay, who is set to miss the whole tournament, and fellow back-rowers Blade Thomson, David Denton and Matt Fagerson.

Townsend said he expects "six or seven players" to return to action after their second game against Ireland, a group which includes Glasgow front-rowers Fraser Brown, George Turner and Zander Fagerson.

"Whether they are available to us or in the right condition to play our third game against France [on 23 February], it will be a boost to know these players are back for at least two, maybe three games," he told BBC Sport.

'We are in it to win it'

Scotland equalled their best-ever Six Nations finish of third last year in Townsend's first campaign as head coach, culminating in an unconvincing 29-27 victory over Italy in Rome.

They open this year's championship against the same opponents, who have not won a Six Nations match since beating Scotland at Murrayfield in 2015, one of seven occasions they have overcome the Scots in the tournament.

"The expectations in Scotland will be high, but we realise that it is a very tough game to start with," added Townsend.

"We have lost a number of times to Italy and we should have lost to them last year. They are a very tough team to play against, and Scotland teams in the past have found it very difficult.

Hamish Watson Opta tweet

"We are in it to win it [the Six Nations], and I imagine that is what every team is focused on.

"Finding that consistency of good-to-very-good performances is what is required from us to be tough to beat, and to win tournaments."

Italy have lost their last 17 Six Nations matches, 10 of them since Irishman Conor O'Shea took charge.

"We are not stupid," O'Shea said as he assessed their prospects for this year. "We know the scale of the challenge. We want to deliver our best and then we will see.

"Our only focus is delivering a massively intense performance, and to execute it against Scotland.

"We want to look back on a performance that we are proud of, and leave everything on the pitch."

Graphic of Scotland's Six Nations fixtures

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80 comments

  • Comment posted by philinwoking, at 15:26 23 Jan 2019

    I'm an Englishman and I admire this guy. Best groveller in the 6n. Punches way above his weight. You won't miss him against Italy but it is a shame he won't make Ireland or probably France.

  • Comment posted by Gooney, at 14:56 23 Jan 2019

    Big loss and hope he will have some part to play before end of the 6 Nations. However, if, and I hope he does, Hardie gets the nod, a very similar player and a clever one at that. Should fit right back in like he's not been away.

  • Comment posted by kb20yearsofpain, at 16:26 23 Jan 2019

    Out of the thirty posts on here 1/3 are pond life commenting on an excellent injured player. It's almost getting to the point where descent people who come onto these forums to talk about the game we love are having to put up with the garbage spouted by brain dead football type supporters.

  • Comment posted by sherbertlemon, at 14:44 23 Jan 2019

    Nightmare. Been consistently outstanding the last couple years. I was optimistic this year but now starting to worry... 17 losses on the bounce means Italy are due a win... fingers crossed Scotland don't slip up.

  • Comment posted by Hungry John, at 19:01 23 Jan 2019

    Shame. Even as an Englishman I admire the way he plays and refreshing to see a back rower who relies on technique and not just bulk.

  • Comment posted by User0676266253, at 15:06 23 Jan 2019

    Hopefully he and Barclay will be fit come the RWC.

  • Comment posted by Batson_D_Belfry, at 15:04 23 Jan 2019

    Watson would be my first pick on the team, so this is a big loss, especially coming on the back of the longer term injury to John Barclay. It's good we have more cover than in recent years, which softens the blow, but those are two sets of big boots to fill.

  • Comment posted by footyfan94, at 15:26 23 Jan 2019

    Watson and Barclay are huge losses and losing both of them is just as serious as if we were to lose both of Hogg and Russell.

    In the six nations last year we were one of the strongest teams at the breakdown, but in the Autumn internationals this was an area we significantly weakened on without Barclay's influence so without both Barclay and Watson it could become even weaker.

  • Comment posted by Rockcliffe, at 15:53 23 Jan 2019

    Just feel gutted for Watson, he's played some great rugby all season and when the big one comes along he's out!

  • Comment posted by footyfan94, at 15:52 23 Jan 2019

    "Another English player out injured"

    Nationality more than anything is how you feel.

    For example, who would you say is more Scottish between Gary Graham and Watson? Gary Graham, the guy born and raised in Scotland who changes his mind over his nationality whenever it suits him or the guy born in England who cherished his roots, came to Scotland at 18 and only ever wanted to play for Scotland

  • Comment posted by footyfan94, at 15:59 23 Jan 2019

    21. "I'd experiment against Italy"

    Are you trolling?

    This a big tournament where every match counts and you want to risk victory by playing an experimental side. 5 of the guys you've selected have got 10 caps between them. This is the six nations where we try to win matches. We should play the 15 best players we have available to us in every match.

    Lets not mess around in the 1st match

  • Comment posted by McMucker, at 11:15 24 Jan 2019

    Count the number of Welsh players on the deck trying to deal with Hamish Watson. His strength belies his size. If you really followed HW you would know he's good enough for any of the 6N back-rows.
    https://twitter.com/CammyBlack/status/1059848916982730753

  • Comment posted by nhunter, at 11:03 24 Jan 2019

    God, this is awful. Head and shoulders (with his lack of a neck) one of the best ball stealers in the 6N. Utterly fearless, and selfless. Shocked he's not permanently injured, the way he plays. Hardie must replace. Not only the best alternative option, but he has the motivation to give to Scottish rugby the message that he needs to deliver about the way he was treated last year.

  • Comment posted by The Uncomfortable Truth, at 15:24 23 Jan 2019

    With the current injury list it is a real opportunity to see exactly what strength we have in depth. With a reasonably full squad to pick from in September there should be strong competition for places. Are we certain Bill Mata is not Scottish?

  • Comment posted by Col_Shivers, at 15:57 23 Jan 2019

    For the first two games would go with a back row of; 6 Ritchie - been on form for a while with Edinburgh and has played well in the summer tour and AIs so has earned a shot at 6N level. 7 Hardie - on good form for Newcastle and has always performed at test level for Scotland. 8 Strauss - he's getting on a bit but we still need extra bulk and his relentless hard carrying.

  • Comment posted by TARW, at 06:11 24 Jan 2019

    Great shame about Watson, class act

  • Comment posted by D1710745944388, at 19:06 23 Jan 2019

    @59 Great Joke

  • Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 16:39 23 Jan 2019

    Great shame, Watson is a fantastic player, how he's not a Lion I really don't know.

    That said Scotland have the easiest possible of opening games, and their regions are playing well. I think 3rd place is a probable result.

  • Comment posted by Finlay307, at 17:29 23 Jan 2019

    @38.

    5TH. What, you mean where you finished last season? I would have imagined your mystic powers predicted that about his time last year?
    Shite news about Hamish, he is our best forward by a country. Going to be tough with all the injuries we have. Hopfeully a few of them come back but not looking past Italy for now, get them out of the way and hopefully we can give Ire an upset on home soil

  • Comment posted by OAP, at 20:16 23 Jan 2019

    A bit of rest and then back for Munster šŸ˜†

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