Scotland assess walking wounded

MacFadyen, White and Southwell all complete Tuesday training

Scotland's beleaguered squad on Tuesday completed the first training session since the 36-16 defeat to South Africa last Saturday.

The Scots cancelled training on Monday owing to the number of knocks and niggles, and a stomach bug, had cut the squad down to its bare bones ahead of Saturday's second Test.

Open-side flanker Donnie Macfadyen, who took a chest knock in the loss to the Springboks at the ABSA Stadium last weekend, completed the entire 80 minute training session at Durban High School Old Boys’ Club and while captain Jason White worked separately with the medical team, he is also expected to be fit for the match in Port Elizabeth.

Flanker White later explained that in the first Test he had taken a bang to his knee in the same area he had sustained a blow in the Guinness Premiership semi-final, when his club, Sale Sharks, had defeated London Wasps.

"I know my own body and the medics, led by physio Bob Stewart, are doing a great job.  I will be 100 per cent on Saturday," he said, an opinion with which Scotland coach Frank Hadden concurred.

Glasgow Warriors number eight John Beattie did not train on Tuesday, instead he remained at the team hotel having been laid low by a stomach bug.

Among the backs, Hadden reported that full-back Hugo Southwell, who had taken a knock to his neck/shoulder last weekend, also completed the full training session on Tuesday, while wing Sean Lamont did mainly straight-line running with the medical team at the session as he strives to overcome a dead leg.

"Sean is better than expected," said Hadden.

"We felt there was no chance of him playing in the second Test earlier in the week. There is a glimmer of hope there now. We'll be monitoring him over the next 24 hours."

Betties’ illness will also be monitored carefully in case any other members of the party come down with the same bug.

It also means any decision on whether Beattie can be released to join up with the Scotland U21 squad in France cannot be made until the overall health of the squad in South Africa is ascertained - although Beattie already has U21 coach John Jeffrey's blessing to stay in SA if required.