Tonight's rugby news as BBC issue update after Six Nations incident and Ronan O'Gara baffled by Wales
These are your evening rugby headlines on Sunday, February 9.
BBC issue update after Six Nations concern
The BBC have confirmed that Scotland star Darcy Graham has been taken to hospital after a sickening clash of heads with teammate Finn Russell during their Six Nations match with Ireland.
The Murrayfield fixture was brought to a halt after the sickening first-half collision, which left both men lying dazed on the turf after attempting to tackle Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park. While Russell was able to get to his feet and walk off the pitch for a head injury assessment, however, Graham - who looked to be knocked out by the clash - was taken off on a medical cart.
READ MORE: It’s over for Warren Gatland, his Wales reign is finished
READ MORE: Italy v Wales referee Matthew Carley left BBC star raging as apology demanded
The back was fitted with a neck brace but was said to be "moving and talking" as he received treatment, while he even gave a thumbs up to the Scotland supporters as they applauded him off the pitch.
In a further update, BBC commentator Andrew Cotter said Graham had been "sitting up" before being taken to hospital. Russell was also withdrawn from the action, despite passing his HIA, with the Scotland medical staff opting not to send him back out on to the field.
O'Gara baffled by Wales
Ireland legend Ronan O'Gara says he is stunned by where Welsh rugby now finds itself as he claimed the spine of Warren Gatland's side is currently "completely lacking".
The La Rochelle boss, who was on punditry duty for the BBC's coverage of Scotland v Ireland on Sunday, admitted he felt like he's "been in a bubble" with the scale of how far Wales have fallen only registering with him recently. But after watching a 14th successive Test defeat for Gatland's side in Rome this weekend, O'Gara said the situation was "incredibly serious".
"I've never seen this before," he said. "Ever since I was growing up, Wales were nearly market leaders in rugby. I grew up with 101 Best Tries and watching all these Welsh giants of the game and we got all our ideas from watching them. They inspired everyone coming through and whether you were Irish or Welsh it didn't matter, because these guys showed us.
"Then, in my playing days, they were all really good and competitive. I kind of feel like I've been in a bubble and I've missed a bit because it's 14 losses which didn't register with me. When you stand back from it, this is incredibly serious where we are," he added.
"I just think that the spine of their team is completely lacking. You just need experience at two, eight, nine and 15 and then you can maybe build rookies around that. But at the minute, where's your starting point?
"It looks very difficult in terms of how you set up a team to succeed or even compete, because at the minute, after 30 minutes yesterday the game was over."
Ireland international makes savage Welsh dig
Former Ireland star Rob Kearney says facing Wales is now the least scary fixture for teams in the Six Nations as he slammed the lack of desire they showed against Italy.
Warren Gatland's side reached a new low this weekend as another miserable performance saw them beaten 22-15 by the Italians in Rome in what was their 14th successive Test match defeat. The loss not only leaves Gatland's future as head coach hanging by a thread but also saw Wales drop to 12th in the world rankings - below Georgia - as Welsh rugby reached a new nadir.
With Ireland, Scotland and England yet to come in this year's Championship, it won't get any easier for Wales and Kearney admitted that a visit to Cardiff would no longer faze opposition players after a "frustrating" and "upsetting" display in Rome.
Reflecting on the first half-performance on Saturday, he said: "The thing that's upsetting me about Wales watching this first 40 minutes is they don't look that interested. Italy are bringing far more aggression, far more hunger, far more desire.
"They're three things, regardless what sort of player you are, you can bring those, and it frustrates the hell out of me when a team who are on a losing streak are getting called out for just not having much desire."
Kearney then added: "When we were players, if there was ever a chance of being left out for a game, it was the Italian game. Now it's Cardiff. The fixture against Wales now is not as scary as the Italian game."
Baxter: We've got to back that up
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
Fin Baxter insists England are determined to back up their seismic upset of France after reigniting their RBS 6 Nations title bid with a dramatic 26-25 victory at Allianz Stadium.
England ended a run of seven successive defeats to top tier opposition by finally closing out a match that was there for the taking, having fallen in a host of near misses over the last year.
Baxter joined Elliot Daly in stepping off the bench to score a try in a breathless climax and with a bonus-point win now in the bank, as well as the losing bonus point they claimed against Ireland, they face Scotland on Saturday week with renewed purpose.
“That roar at the end was incredible. I’m going to remember that for a very long time,” Baxter said. “Just like with the close results we’ve had, we made sure we didn’t get too low with those and we’re going to enjoy this, but we’re not going to get too high either.
“We got on the right side of it this time but we weren’t perfect and there are lots of things we need to work on. This is a marquee win and a win that we’re going to look back on for a very long time, but we’re not parking up after that. We’re going for the rest of them and that’s what we’ve been going with since I’ve been part of this team.”
A feature of England’s win was the impact made by the bench with Baxter, Daly, Jamie George, Ollie Chessum and Ben Curry making influential cameos that helped swing the game. The influence of the replacements is a success story that was missing from the past 12 months when France, New Zealand on three occasions and Australia all came from behind to edge Steve Borthwick’s side.
“The bench goes on every time trying to make a positive impact, trying to bring energy and a lift. Against France we did that and we brought that lift,” Baxter said. “There’s not one key thing that’s changed at all, it’s hundreds of small things, but we made sure against France that we did our role.”
Baxter, who also won an important scrum penalty, was making his seventh Test appearance and is now having to deal with opponents who are alive to his threat after he arrived on to the scene as an unknown against the All Blacks last summer.
“This year’s definitely been a step up with people not glossing over me,” the Harlequins front row said. “I proved in New Zealand that I’m an international rugby player and no longer can I, as I did last year, fly under the radar into games and catch people by surprise.
"That’s not a thing any more and it took me a little bit of getting used to that with everyone being switched on 100 per cent. I’m back on it, which I’m really enjoying.”
