Scotland look like being forced into a double change on the wings for Saturday’s clash with Fiji.
Having shocked Australia 9-6 in Newcastle last Tuesday, it would have been no surprise to see head coach Andy Robinson name an unchanged side for the second of their three tour matches.
But after already losing replacement prop Moray Low to a shoulder injury, Scotland now have major injury concerns over Sean Lamont and Joe Ansbro.
Lamont is struggling with the rib problem that led to his departure prior to half time at Hunter Stadium, while Ansbro is expected to be unavailable as a result of a clash of heads with team-mate Al Strokosch.
Ansbro required 48 stitches to a clean wound thanks to a collision with the powerful blindside when celebrating Scotland’s win immediately after Greig Laidlaw’s last-gasp penalty.
But while the absence of their two widemen is a blow for the Scots as they look to build on a first win in Australia since 1982, Robinson can call on two ready-made replacements in Max Evans and Tim Visser.
Dutch-born Visser qualifies on residency grounds this week after three stunning seasons for Edinburgh, while Evans has joined up with the squad following the completion of his Top 14 commitments with Castres.
Visser was named the RaboDirect PRO12 Player of the Year last month and has long been talked of Scotland’s next big thing.
The 25-year-old has bagged an impressive 37 tries in 57 domestic appearances for his club and will be hoping to establish a similar strike rate with his adopted country.
As for Evans, the former Glasgow wing who moved to France at the beginning of the season, he had been playing down his chances of a start against the Fijians but is now expected to be recalled after missing the tour opener due to Castres’ clash with Toulouse in the French Championship semi-finals.
