Fagerson fear mars Scotland fightback

GREGOR Townsend was left with mixed emotions after watching his side shrug off the blow of having a man sent off to conjure a thrilling victory at Murrayfield. 

- GARY FITZGERALD

Prop Zander Fagerson’s chances of being on the World Cup plane hang in the balance having become the first player to see a yellow card upgraded to red by the new off-the-field review system.

Fagerson is now sweating on a potential lengthy ban just before the squad is named for the campaign in France. He was shown a yellow card by referee Ben O’Keeffe in the 55th minute for recklessly smashing into the face of hooker Pierre Bourgarit with his own head and shoulder.

Townsend also has concerns over scrum-half Ben White who sustained an ankle injury and limped away from Murrayfield with a protective boot on his left foot and faces a battle to be fit for the opener against South Africa on Sept 10.

Townsend will be worried by the first half display against a young and inexperienced French outfit which left Scotland trailing 21-3 at the break. But he will be lifted by the spirit shown by his side – which resembled the majority of those expected to start the World Cup – as they completed a record second half fightback win.

Townsend insisted: “It was a ruck clear by Zander and he needs to be more accurate. For us it was a rugby incident but he needs to ensure he gets underneath his opponent. It’s fine margins but he has to do better.