Freak hand injury rules out Barclay for Scotland

(GETTY IMAGES)

The Scotland flanker John Barclay will miss his side's game against Ireland on Saturday due to the freak hand injury he sustained at the weekend.

Barclay, 21, suffered his injury at a dinner party, when a friend sat on a glass he was holding in his hand. The Scots' head coach, Frank Hadden, had delayed a decision on Barclay when announcing his team on Tuesday, but decided after a training session yesterday that he would have to miss the Dublin game.

Allister Hogg will replace Barclay at No 7, with Kelly Brown at No 8 and the uncapped Edinburgh flanker Ross Rennie, 21, on the bench.

Italy coach, Nick Mallett, has been forced to make several changes to his team to face Wales. Andrea Marcato replaces David Bortolussi, who is struggling with a shoulder injury. The Gloucester lock Marco Bortolami, who missed the opening two games with an eye injury, returns as a replacement. Simon Picone, who scored Italy's only try in the 23-19 loss to England in Rome, has earned a place in the starting line-up ahead of Pietro Travagli. Mallett has dropped Andrea Lo Cicero and given prop Salvatore Perugini, lock Santiago Dellape and centre Mirco Bergamasco their 50th caps.