Frank Hadden’s plans for the autumn internationals against New Zealand, South Africa and Canada have been thrown into disarray before the players have even arrived in the training camp being run this week in Spain. The biggest problem has become scrum half, where both the players competing for a place on the bench behind Mike Blair, the captain, have been ruled out.

Chris Cusiter, in sparkling form for Perpignan, broke a thumb in the weekend win over Dax, while Rory Lawson, who had won the role during the summer tour, damaged a rib cartilage during Gloucester’s win over the Dragons. Cusiter will need surgery and is out for six weeks; Lawson’s position will not be clear until he has seen a specialist tomorrow but he will expect to be sidelined for between three and six weeks.

To cover the loss Mark McMillan, the uncapped Glasgow scrum half, has been called into the squad after impressing during his stint with the A team competing in the Churchill Cup during the summer. His elevation to the senior squad is full justification for his decision to return to Scotland from Wasps, but Hadden must be worried that if anything happens to Blair, his next port of call is an uncapped 25-year-old who is only just starting to win a regular club starting place.

As if that was not bad enough, while both the Scottish professional teams were giving the camp a lift by winning at the weekend, Glasgow at home to Leinster, the champions, and Edinburgh away to Connacht, Graeme Morrison limped out of the Firhill match with a knee injury and has also been ruled out of the Spain session. He has damaged knee ligaments and is staying in Scotland for further tests.

He has not been replaced directly in the squad. Instead Nikki Walker, who had been the victim of the Welsh club boycott that was ended only when their union went to court and won an injunction barring the clubs from holding on to the players this week, was called in and was due to join the camp today after scoring the opening try in the Ospreys’ 37-22 win over Worcester yesterday.

On the plus side, Hadden must have been encouraged by the form shown by other important players. Sean Lineen, the Glasgow coach singled out John Barclay, the openside flanker, as having taken his game to “another level” in the 15-12 win over Leinster in dreadful conditions, while Max Evans, the centre, did more than enough to suggest that he is ready to a step up to the big time.

“I am so looking forward to getting away, to be in among it and push for a place in the 22,” was the player’s reaction. “It is so good to go into the squad camp feeling positive and not disappointed. I feel great, especially getting the man of the match award.”

His flourishes in the first half almost got Glasgow the try they deserved, only to be called back for a marginally forward pass — television replays did nothing to support Gwyn Morris’s ruling — and he belied his reputation of being an out-and-out attacker who is less capable in defence by helping to lock out the dangerous Leinster backs, particularly in the second half when Glasgow were often under pressure.

“We defended really well,” he said. “It has been a case of us backs knowing each other better and better in defence, not just in attack, and working off each other. We knew that if our defence was good we would win. We have the attack to score but if the defence is even slightly off form, things can go the wrong way. Training sessions have been nuts, everybody throwing themselves at each other in real physical contact, we have not slacked off on that and that showed.”

- New Zealand will bring seven newcomers to Europe next month, but first they play Australia in Hong Kong on Saturday, for which they have delayed Greg Somerville’s arrival at Gloucester as the prop is cover for John Afoa.

New Zealand party: Backs: C Jane, M Muliaina, H Gear, J Rokocoko, S Sivivatu, A Tuitavake, R Kahui, M Nonu, C Smith, I Toeava, D Carter, S Donald, J Cowan, A Ellis, P Weepu. Forwards: J Afoa, R Filipo, B Franks, J Mackintosh, N Tialata, A Woodcock, C Flynn, A Hore, K Mealamu, A Boric, J Eaton, B Thorn, A Williams, J Kaino, R McCaw, L Messam, K Reid, R So’oialo, A Thomson, S Waldrom.

South Africa party: Backs: C Jantjes, B Habana, J Nokwe, O Ndungane, J P Pietersen, J de Villiers, J Fourie, A Jacobs, F Steyn, R Pienaar, E Rose, F du Preez, E Januarie. Forwards: T Mtawarira, N Mujati, J Smit, G Steenkamp, B du Plessis, C Ralepelle, A Bekker, B Botha, V Matfield, S Burger, H Brussow, R Kankowski, D Rossouw, J Smith, P Spies.