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.Â
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.
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.
Ireland and Scotland suffer injury blows ahead of Six Nations clash
Loughman was a notable absentee from Ireland’s 27-17 win over Wales last time out, with Tom O’Toole 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.
Ireland 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.
Farrell will announce his 23-man squad on Thursday afternoon.
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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.
Of that quartet, Hepburn, Reed and Ferrie return to the Six Nations squad after previous involvement with Scotland A, while two-capped Samuel comes in for the first time this Championship.
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.