Scottish duo to miss opener

London - Back rower David Denton and wing Sean Maitland will miss Scotland's Six Nations opener against France in Paris after picking up injuries at the weekend.

Maitland sustained a shoulder injury playing for Glasgow against Bath in a European Champions Cup clash while Denton tore a calf muscle playing for Edinburgh against Bordeaux in the European Challenge Cup game.

Both players have left the Scotland training camp near Motherwell and returned to their clubs' medical teams with Scotland coach Vern Cotter optimistic they will be fit enough to take part later in the championship.

Denton was the only specialist number eight in Cotter's original 32-man squad but the Kiwi has since called up Castres' Johnnie Beattie as backup.

The Six Nations openers sees Scotland travel to Paris to take on France on February 7.