Both Scotland’s star playmakers are out of the Autumn Nations Cup after picking up injuries during the victory in the final Six Nations game against Wales.
Stand-offs Finn Russell and Adam Hastings will miss all four Scotland internationals in November during the Autumn Cup series, and Hastings could miss the 2021 Six Nations campaign.
It means Scotland are certain to be without their two main playmakers for matches against France, Fiji, Italy and one of England, Ireland, Wales or Georgia.
Head coach Gregor Townsend said to the BBC earlier this week it wasn’t good news on the player prognosis, particularly for Hastings.
Townsend told the BBC: “It’s not good news for Scotland fans or the players. They (Russell and Hastings) won’t take further part in our Autumn series.”
Townsend went on to say: “Adam certainly won’t be back for the beginning (of the Six Nations). We’ll rule him out for the start and see if he comes back at the end.”
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Whilst it’s a blow Townsend didn’t sound too downhearted, saying there was good depth in the position and new opportunities now presented themselves to other players.
Townsend said: “It means someone else gets an opportunity. We have depth in the number ten position and players available.
“It’s an opportunity for one of them to grab that chance.”
Options at 10
Gregor Townsend didn’t sound too disheartened when he spoke about losing both star fly-halves in the same game, although Townsend has one of the best poker-faces of the home nations coaches.
You’d be hard pushed to tell whether Gregor was happy or sad in any condition.
Here he gives a list of names he’s already considering to take up the number ten jersey.
The front runner: Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors)
The twenty-nine year old has vast experience with over one-hundred and fifty professional games under his belt for Glasgow, Edinburgh and Worcester, plus twenty-eight appearances for Scotland.
Townsend described Weir as “playing the best rugby of his career in recent weeks”.
The old hand: Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors)
Even more experience than Weir. Horne is still highly rated by Townsend who sees the Warriors man as a reliable choice to fill the vacant fly-half position.
The young gun: James Lang (Harlequins)
A former London Irish player who developed his craft in Wales under the astute tutelage of Llanelli legend Phil Davies.
Lang is at the beginning of his international rugby career having made four appearances for the dark blues and looks to have an exciting future learning his trade in one of the top leagues in the world.
The wild card: Jaco van der Walt (Edinburgh)
Scotland bolstered with South African steal. Van der Walt will qualify to play for Scotland on the 16th of November, between the Italy and France game.
The burley fly-half has been at Edinburgh for two years, having started his career in South Africa with the Golden Lions.
Return to Rugby framework
The day after the finale of the Six Nations, Scottish Rugby released its guidelines for playing rugby under the Scottish Government’s 0-4 covid response tier system.
The rugby tiers replicate that of the government tiers.
In tiers zero to one contact training, friendly matches and stadia can open with limited numbers.
In tier two stadia remains closed and in tiers three and four there’s no adult matches or contact in training.
Aberdeen City, Shire and Angus are all in tier two covid response under government guidelines, meaning they are in tier two of the rugby framework.
Moray is currently sitting in tier one meaning they’re in tier one of the rugby framework.
Tiers are accurate as of 06/11/20.
Details of the new ‘rugby tier system’ can be accessed at the Scottish Rugby website.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 