Scotland vs Ireland hit with huge delay as star stretchered off after sickening clash with own team-mate in Six Nations
SCOTLAND and Ireland's Six Nations clash experienced a huge delay as Darcy Graham was stretchered off the field.
It came following a nasty head injury after colliding with team-mate Finn Russell.
The clash of heads in the 22nd minute caused a huge delay to the game.
Russell, 32, was able to walk off the field as he went for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).
The fly-half was replaced by Stafford McDowall.
Meanwhile, Graham had to be taken off on a stretcher with a neck brace after coming off worse in the collision.
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He was replaced by Jamie Dobie.
The 27-year-old was given an ovation from the Murrayfield crowd as he went off.
Graham was taken to hospital from the game, but is fortunately said to have been sitting up and responsive.
The double injury forced the Bravehearts to shuffle their pack around.
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Tom Jordan moved from 12 to 10 as McDowall and Dobie, the only two backs on the bench available to Gregor Townsend, entered the field.
Russell ended up failing his HIA and was ruled out of returning to action.
The score at the time was 7-0 to Ireland, who are the holders of the competition.
Ireland pressed their dominance to move 17-0 clear.
However, just before half-time Scotland scored a Try through Duhan van der Merwe to give them a glimmer of hope, although Blair Kinghorn dragged his conversion attempt wide.
Before the game Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy received a rousing reception from the crowd.
Hoy revealed he was battling terminal prostate cancer in a heartbreaking Instagram post last year.
Britain's most decorated Olympic star performed two ceremonial duties ahead of kick-off in Scotland's crunch clash.
After the anthems, Hoy was given a guard of honour from both benches as he emerged out of the tunnel to a thunderous applause.
He hugged former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright, who has been cycling around the UK and Ireland for the Doddie Foundation.
Hoy, 48, waved to fans around the stadium as he walked to the middle of the pitch to deliver the match ball to referee James Doleman.
Sir Chris looked overcome with emotion as he appeared to fight back tears while he walked back towards the sideline.
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A commentator said: "What a moment here. That's quite a welcome. Sir Chris Hoy - one of Scotland's and Britain's greatest ever sportsmen.
"A son of Edinburgh who grew up here in Murrayfield and went on to conquer the cycling world and that's quite a welcome home."
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