Adam Ashe and Alex Dunbar have both returned to the medical care of their club, Glasgow Warriors, after being ruled out of the first part of the RBS 6 Nations Championship through injury.
A scan at BMI Ross Hall Hospital confirmed that the posterior thigh strain sustained by centre Dunbar in his club’s 22-5 win over Racing 92 on Saturday will keep him sidelined for the coming weeks. It means that with Mark Bennett still an injury worry (reckoned to be about 50/50) and Richie Vernon already ruled out of the squad, a midfield pairing of Matt Scott and Duncan Taylor looks increasingly likely to face England – not an unwelcome pairing by any means. Sean Lamont will already be warming up as a reserve with Pete Horne a slight [update: confirmed] doubt also.
Further assessment on the shoulder injury sustained by Adam Ashe in his club’s Champions Cup match loss to Northampton Saints a fortnight ago led to the diagnosis for Ashe, who has been judged unavailable for selection for the coming weeks. Josh Strauss and Dave Denton will no doubt breathe a little easier, as Ashe had started to show signs of form in recent weeks.