Scotland's Darcy Graham out; Finn Russell set to face Springboks

Scotland wing Darcy Graham has been ruled out of Sunday’s Test against the Springboks at Murrayfield after failing to pass head injury protocols.

Graham was forced off late in Scotland’s 57-17 victory over Fiji on Saturday following a head injury sustained while scoring his fourth try.

Head coach Gregor Townsend confirmed on Tuesday that Graham, a standout performer for Scotland, will miss the anticipated clash against South Africa. Graham’s absence is a blow for Scotland, as his pace and finishing skills have been instrumental in the recent win over Fiji.

Despite Graham’s absence, Townsend received a boost as Kyle Rowe, a strong candidate to take over the wing position, may still be available despite a hamstring injury he sustained during the Fiji game.

Adding to Scotland’s lineup strength, star playmaker Finn Russell is set to return to the squad, providing Townsend with an experienced option at fly-half.

"Yes, it's mixed news, so the good news is that Kyle Rowe is much better than expected," Townsend said.

"We literally got his scan results back in the last hour, so he has a chance for this week, so we're not ruling him out for this week, and obviously that means we're not ruling him out for the tournament, which is positive.

"We all felt after the game that with a hamstring injury, it could be him missing the next few games, but no, he's recovering well, and the scan provided positive news.

"Darcy, unfortunately, failed his (Head Injury Assessment) HIA2 and his HIA3, so he'll be ruled out for this weekend."