SCOTLAND will go into their final European Championship showdown with France without talisman Danny Brough. The veteran skipper, 33, injured his hand in the 24-22 defeat to Ireland at Galashiels on Friday night and will be rested for the France game, with Scotland out of title contention following two narrow losses.
"Danny won't come to France," confirmed Scotland head coach Steve McCormack. "He has damaged his hand so won't be fit but he wouldn't play anyway now that we can't win it. Danny needs a rest – he's played every game for us in the last three campaigns now and needs a break before pre-season starts with his club.
"He could easily have pulled out of the whole tournament to give himself a break ahead of the Four Nations next year and the 2017 World Cup. His wife, Jenna, has been away climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for the Steve Prescott Foundation so Danny has been dropping his kids off at school every morning, driving a couple of hours to training, going back to pick the kids up from school, then driving back to the team hotel. He did that three days on the trot. That tells you everything about him and his commitment to Scotland. His mum brought the boys to Gala for the Ireland game as their mum was away and Danny was in camp. He has been absolutely outstanding."
Half-back Brough has not had a proper break since 2012, having played throughout the 2013 World Cup and last autumn's triumphant European campaign. Centre Ben Hellewell has made a similar commitment and, along with prop Adam Walker, is unavailable for the game in Avignon on November 7. McCormack is in talks to bring uncapped Billy McConnachie over from Australia as a replacement for Walker.
France play Wales on Friday at Cardiff Arms Park having been shellacked by England last Saturday, conceding a record 15 tries. However, victory over Wales will see them top the table with another win over Scotland.
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