Rathbone fit to face Scotland

Smith, who will miss Saturday's opener against Australia, told The Scotsman: "It felt a bit funny in the airport when I flew up to Scotland.

"While I'm getting a scan now, it looks like a minimum of three weeks out."

Meanwhile Craig Hamilton and Robbie Kydd are both suffering from flu and Simon Danielli has undergone keyhole surgery on his knee injury.

Smith was already expected to miss the opening game of the series against Australia due to club commitments with Northampton.

But the 33-year-old has now suffered a recurrence of the knee problem that forced him to pull out of the Saints' Heineken Cup win in Glasgow just over a week ago.

All this will give Williams a chance to blood more young players, but the lack of experience in the Scottish ranks is going to be a problem From Matt Have your say on Scrum V

"When I first did it in the game with Sale two weeks ago, it seemed like just a hyper-extension and, although it kept me out of the Glasgow game, I felt fine on Saturday against Llanelli and was okay on Sunday," he said.

"But, when I flew up to Scotland on Monday, that was when I knew there was something up.

"I've spoken with people at Scotland and Northampton and it looks like a minimum of three weeks out and, possibly, as much as six. It's disappointing and the worst timing."

Meanwhile, Hamilton and Kydd have a flu-like gastric bug and have left the camp for fear of the illness spreading.

Borders' Danielli underwent keyhole surgery on his right knee on Sunday but will rejoin the squad to start his rehabilitation.