Scotland v Ireland halted amid huge concern as team-mates in sickening head clash
Scotland stars Finn Russell and Darcy Graham were involved in a sickening head-on-head collision during their Six Nations match against Ireland.
Having put the hosts under pressure and gone into a 0-7 lead in the first half at Murrayfield, Ireland launched another attack in the 21st minute as they looked to take further advantage of Duhan van Merwe being in the sin-bin. As James Lowe received the ball on the left wing, he looked to play the ball inside to Jamison Gibson-Park, but the scrum-half couldn't keep hold of the pass as he knocked it on.
Gibson-Park had been put under pressure by the advancing Russell and Graham, who were closing in on him from different angles. But the Scottish pair ended up colliding with each other in a sickening clash of heads that had the crowd and those watching on at home groaning in pain as replays were played.
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There was immediate concern for the two men as physios from both sides ran on to the pitch in order to treat them, with Graham coming worse off as he lay flat out on the turf having been knocked out, as a groggy-looking Russell struggled as he attempted to get to his feet.
Andrew Cotter and Chris Paterson, on commentary for the BBC, both drew sharp intakes of breath as they watched the replays back, and said there was "no doubt" that both men would have to be withdrawn from the action.
While Russell was able to get to his feet and walk off the pitch to undergo a head injury assessement, Graham - who was wearing a neck brace - was loaded onto a stretcher and driven off the pitch by the medical cart to applause from the Murrayfield crowd.
Cotter admitted it was an "awful sight to see" but in an encouraging update to viewers at home, confirmed that Graham was "moving and talking" while being treated. The Scotland ace also gave a thumbs up to fans as he was taken off the pitch.
Later in the half, it was confirmed that Russell had failed his head injury assessement and would play no further part in the match.
