Scotland players dejected after their defeat to Wales during the 2011 Six Nations

SCOTLAND WILL be without three players due to injury for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Ireland at Murrayfield (kick-off 3pm).

Centre Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints) and full-backs Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais) and Rory Lamont (Toulon) have all been ruled out. Ansbro suffered concussion in his club’s loss to Bath at the weekend. Southwell has not recovered from the facial injury he suffered in the defeat to Wales and Lamont sustained a leg injury in his side’s loss against Agen at the weekend.

Scotland team doctor James Robson also reported that six forwards in the squad require further medical assessment and will not train today. Glasgow Warriors duo Jon Welsh (ribs) and Robert Harley (hip) sustained knocks in their Magners League loss to Connacht; as did Edinburgh flanker Ross Rennie (toe) and Leinster lock Nathan Hines (knee) in their respective games in Limerick and Cardiff in the same competition. Completing the casualty list are Richie Vernon, the Glasgow Warriors No 8, who sustained a blow to his calf in the international against Wales; and his club-mate, hooker Dougie Hall, who missed the Welsh match on account of a shoulder problem.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “We have made the decision now that all three of our injured backs will miss this weekend’s international so that brings clarity to our preparations. We wish all of them a speedy recovery. Our medical staff will continue to treat and monitor our injured forwards. “Everybody was hurting after the display against Wales but we must now focus on the challenge that Ireland bring and there’s absolute determination to bounce back against them at Murrayfield on Sunday.”