Sione Tuipulotu OUT! Four potential options to replace the Scotland captain including ‘classy’ Premiership back

Louis Chapman Coombe
A three pannelled image of Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan and Rory Hutchinson.

From left to right: Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan and Rory Hutchinson.

Scotland have suffered a critical blow on the eve of the Six Nations as skipper Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the Championship through injury.

The Glasgow Warriors centre picked up a pec injury during training, and will now undergo surgery, it was confirmed today.

Sione Tuipulotu will miss the tournament after sustaining a pectoral muscle injury during a training session with Glasgow Warriors last week,” a Scottish Rugby statement read.

“Sione will undergo surgery this week and is expected to return to action before the end of the season.”

His absence not only robs Scotland of their captain for the Six Nations, but it leaves a massive hole in their midfield with Tuipulotu their bolted-on starter at 12.

Gregor Townsend now faces a huge selection call as to who will plug the gap, but who will he pick? Well, here are the front-runners to replace Tuipulotu this Six Nations.

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Rory Hutchinson

The most likely option to replace Tuipulotu in Scotland’s midfield, based on form, is Northampton ace Rory Hutchinson. The playmaker has been in superb touch for the Saints in recent weeks, which has coincided with their dramatic upturn in form too, and would add a nice dynamic to the Scotland backline if called in.

Whilst he isn’t a direct replacement, with them playing virtually opposite styles, Hutchinson is a really classy player when on song and would take some of the load off Finn Russell too, which is when you usually get the best out of the fly-half.

Stafford McDowall

Tuipulotu’s clubmate Stafford McDowall could also be a fine replacement in midfield, and that club link with Huw Jones might give him an edge. Again, he is slightly different to Tuipulotu, but still likes to carry through traffic when called upon. Again, this would keep some continuity in midfield, which has been the key to unlocking their backline in the past year.

Matt Currie

This is a big chance for 23-year-old Matt Currie to stake a claim for the future. The versatile Edinburgh back, who can play both centre positions and wing, is looking like a really promising talent for Scotland moving forward, with some solid showings in his four Test outings, and could put himself more into Townsend’s thoughts with a strong Six Nations.

One thing that does go against him is Test match experience, but there’s only one way to gain that.

Tom Jordan

He could probably play in the front-row and still excel for Scotland, but could Tom Jordan line up at 12 this Six Nations? It’s an outside bet, with the red-hot Glasgow man likely to either play fly-half or full-back, but he has slotted into midfield for his club side this season and could certainly do a job there if called upon this Six Nations.

Deploying him at 12 would also continue that Glasgow connection with Jones, and importantly add a ball-player right next to Russell to then get their attack purring. It could be a smart move.

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