Ireland and Scotland have both suffered injury blows ahead of their pivotal Six Nations meeting this weekend, with a combined seven players dropping out due to knocks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Andy Farrell has lost yet another prop in the form of Jeremy Loughman, while Gregor Townsend will be without Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Adam Hastings, Nathan McBeth, Elliot Millar Mills and Duhan van der Merwe this weekend through injury as well.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite, Bryn Ward and Seb Stephen have also been sent back to their club sides, Ulster and Glasgow Warriors, this weekend, with the Ulstermen primed to feature against Edinburgh on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Ireland and Scotland suffer injury blows ahead of Six Nations clash<\/p>\n
Loughman was a notable absentee from Ireland\u2019s 27-17 win over Wales last time out, with Tom O\u2019Toole starting at loosehead in his place, but the Munsterman has now dropped out of the squad entirely. In his place, Farrell has drafted in uncapped Connacht prop Billy Bohan, while Munster back-rower Brian Gleeson has also been added to the wider training squad this week.<\/p>\n
\u2018Wales deserved better from the match officials\u2019 \u2013 Ex-Irish referee boss slams Six Nations officiating<\/a><\/p>\n Ireland<\/a> have not suffered any fresh injuries in the wake of their victory over Wales, giving Farrell his strongest possible squad to pick from ahead of their meeting with Scotland.<\/p>\n Farrell will announce his 23-man squad on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n Townsend, on the other hand, has had to draft in a strong batch of injury replacements ahead of their trip to the Aviva, with Euan Ferrie, Alec Hepburn, Arron Reed and Alex Samuel all coming into the wider squad.<\/p>\n Six Nations: Fixtures confirmed for 2027 with Ireland opening and closing the tournament and Le Crunch pencilled in for a Valentine\u2019s Day Sunday roast<\/a><\/p>\n Of that quartet, Hepburn, Reed and Ferrie return to the Six Nations squad after previous involvement with Scotland<\/a> A, while two-capped Samuel comes in for the first time this Championship.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, there is some positive news on the injury front with Kyle Steyn included in the wider training squad despite being carted off the pitch against France.<\/p>\n