Hardie blow for Scotland
The 27-year-old New Zealand-born player – a controversial inclusion in the squad as he only arrived in Scotland at the end of July – suffered the injury during the 45-10 whipping of Japan, he scored the Scots first try, this past Wednesday.
Hardie, who qualifies to play for Scotland through a Fife-born grandmother, failed a second test on Friday after the first one proved inconclusive.
"Having produced inconclusive results to a precautionary HIA 2 [head injury assessment] after Wednesday's win over Japan, the openside – who remains symptom free – was reassessed yesterday afternoon," said a Scottish Rugby Union statement.
"It was here that, 48-hours after the game [HIA 3], Hardie failed one component of the tested elements [Cogstate], and was subsequently considered unavailable for the game tomorrow [Sunday]. He will now continue with his graduated return-to-play protocol."
Hardie is replaced by Ryan Wilson in the line-up.
Hooker Fraser Brown has been demoted to the replacement bench as he can cover as a back row forward – Ross Ford starts at hooker – with Kevin Bryce coming into the match-day squad to take the replacement hooker role vacated by Ford.
Scotland will be seeking to build on the Japan victory with potentially their toughest tests to come after the United States in the shape of Samoa and South Africa, who were laid low in stunning fashion by Japan last weekend.
Samoa – who opened with a 25-16 win over the USA last Sunday – and the Springboks face off with each other later on Saturday.
Scotland – revised: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Henry Pyrgos (captain), 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Ryan Wilson, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Fraser Brown, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Matt Scott.
Date: Sunday, September 27
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
Kick-off: 14.30 (13.30 GMT, 09.30 Canadian EDT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
