Philip was running in a training drill near Scotlands Gold Coast base on Sunday when he bumped into team-mate Dan Parks.

Although he suffered an intense, immediate pain that quickly subsided, there appeared to be nothing seriously amiss until Scotlands doctor realised Philips knee was unusually loose.

A specialists scan showed the 20-year-old had suffered a rare form of knee injury, which involved rupturing the ligament but not damaging its protective capsule.

As a result, Philip had been walking pain-free around the hotel and was expecting to play before the Brisbane specialist - who had treated Andrew Mower at the World Cup last year - advised he would require a full knee reconstruction.

It was heartbreaking to be told how serious it was. Its one thing to be going home from the tour, but quite another to be out of the game for so long, Philip said.

I had an operation on my left knee to repair medial ligament damage and remove some cartilage earlier this season, and that was just five or six weeks out, but what can you do?

A lot of stuff goes through your head about how youll come back from this and whether youll be the same player again, but there is little I can do about that at the moment.

A few of the guys have been through this before and Im sure Simon Taylor, who has done the same thing, will be a help to me.

Philip will be the fourth player sent home from the tour in what Scotlands experienced doctor James Robson described as one of the busiest weeks he could remember.

Cameron Mathers twisted ankle and Robbie Kydds smashed cheekbone ruled them out of the tour, Euan Murray failed to shake a thigh injury while scrum-half Mike Blair has been carrying a shoulder concern all week.

Coach Matt Williams has reshuffled his Test side, with Ben Hinshelwood now starting at outside centre.

Sean Lamont will make his international debut on the wing.

The 23-year-old left Rotherham for Glasgow last summer and has hardly looked back, winning the Player of the Year award and now breaking into the Test squad.

I didnt have an inkling that Id get this chance, but it was a very pleasant surprise to be picked, he said.

Its been a great season for me - coming to Glasgow was the best move I made.