If confirmed, the injury would rule Paterson out of a tour that gathered momentum with a confident 38-3 victory over Samoa.

Paterson contributed 11 points from the boot as Scotland secured their first victory since the World Cup before leaving the field after 63 minutes having taken a blow to the face at a breakdown.

There was no hospital available in Wellington without Paterson having to queue in an emergency ward, so Scotland doctor James Robson took him to a private hospital out of town to discover whether it is a fracture or a displacement.

It is not 100% that it is a fracture. There is a chance it is a displacement but he needs a scan, said coach Matt Williams.

They have got to do it before he flies because (if it is a fracture) and air gets in there he is in trouble.

There is a chance we will have to leave Wellington tomorrow without him and leave Doc with him.

If it is a displacement, Paterson will be available for selection to play Australia in the first of back-to-back Tests in Melbourne next weekend - and Scotland could well do without further injury news.

In the week since playing Queensland at Ballymore, Scotland lost Robbie Kydd to a fractured cheekbone, Cameron Mather to a twisted ankle and Tom Philip to a ruptured knee ligament.