Injuries have already troubled Scotland far more in this Six Nations than they have in recent years.
After a brutal test against Wales that left several of their players looking like extras from the General Hospital episode of Blackadder, Scotland are not unscathed themselves.
Back-three trio Tommy Seymour (rib), Blair Kinghorn (ankle) and Stuart Hogg (Peter O’Mahony/shoulder) have been ruled out of this Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham.
Seymour and Kinghorn will now return to the care of their clubs, while Hogg can continue his recovery without forcing it.
Adam Ashe, Tim Swinson, James Johnstone and Luke Crosbie have also been released back to their clubs so you can forget about that Johnson and Johnstone pairing now.
Gregor Townsend has added to the squad for training this week to fill the holes, with Glasgow Warriors fullback Ruaridh Jackson and uncapped (fresh off the 7s circuit) winger Kyle Steyn to the squad. The question is, can they unseat the current starting back three of, um, Adam Hastings, Ali Price and Byron McGuigan?
The silver lining of this news must be that neither Sean Maitland or Darcy Graham have been mentioned in this update, which hopefully means they will be able to play. Jackson could well come into the bench slot with Adam Hastings back to the day job rather than starting at fullback – but it is the Tombola after all…