Scotland’s two frontline playmakers Finn Russell and Adam Hastings are out of the four-match Autumn Nations Cup after suffering injuries in the Six Nations win in Wales at the weekend.
Head coach Gregor Townsend confirmed that Russell suffered a tear in his groin abductor muscle just half an hour into the game in Llanelli at the weekend, and is out for a minimum of six weeks, possibly until the New Year, although surgery is not required.
Russell had only just returned to the side after a self-imposed exile caused him to miss the first four games of the championship in the spring.
Hastings suffered two shoulder separations while on as a replacement for Russell in the Scots’ 14-10 win in the final Six Nations game of 2020, and will require surgery. He will be out for four months, missing the Autumn games and most likely the entirety of the 2021 Six Nations as well.
The Glasgow Warriors stand-off started in all four tests during Russel’s absence, and again in the first match of the autumn against Georgia.
With Edinburgh’s Jaco van der Walt not eligible until after first game of the Nations Cup against Italy game and Townsend not calling on any other stand-offs in a squad of 35 to be named this week, it likely means that Duncan Weir is surely a certain starter for that game.
The former Glasgow and Edinburgh stand-off, now with Worcester, last started a test in 2016.
