The Wallabies have sent home an injured Matt Toomua from their European tour in another major blow to the strife-torn backline.
The in-form inside centre is flying back to Australia after suffering a hamstring strain in training at Edinburgh on Tuesday.
He finished the session but scans have shown a partial tear, which ruled him out of this weekend’s Test against Scotland and the tour finale against Wales in Cardiff.
It’s the latest in a string of blows to the Wallabies backline, which has been in scintillating form in the past two wins over Italy and Ireland.
Toomua had been a major key to that as a perfect playmaking foil to five-eighth Quade Cooper.
But now Australia will be without incumbent wingers Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins, who were stood down for staying out late in Dublin last week, and suspended outside centre Tevita Kuridrani.
Kuridrani was slugged with a five-week ban for a dangerous tip tackle on Irish flanker Peter O’Mahony in the 32-15 win at Aviva Stadium.
It means the Wallabies will sport a severely patched-up backline against the Scots, with players being forced to line up out of position.
Christian Leali’ifano had been the most likely to replace Kuridrani at No.13, but now he may move back to No.12 in place of Toomua.
Coach Ewen McKenzie may be forced to move superstar Israel Folau from fullback to plug a gap at wing or outside centre, and promote Bernard Foley to fullback.
Rookie Chris Feauai-Sautia is a certainty to start, probably on the wing but maybe at No.13, as is Brumbies flyer Joe Tomane.
The tough-tackling and big-kicking Toomua’s injury won’t affect his start to next year’s Super Rugby season for the Brumbies, where he plays five-eighth.
The Wallabies have already been forced to fly over winger Peter Betham, who could now get a chance to play at Murrayfield on Saturday.