WALES have ruled Rhys Patchell out of their plan of action for the Six Nations due to start in three weeks' time.
The fly-half 's continuing absence more than two months after a second-half appearance at the end of last year's delayed tournament makes him a non-starter for this year's.
Patchell's loss is a blow to Wayne Pivac, depriving him of the puppeteer-inchief whose orchestration of the Scarlets' dazzling PRO12 title triumph in 2017 earned their head coach the right to succeed Warren Gatland.
Pivac released Patchell from national duty throughout the Autumn Nations Cup campaign ‘to get himself reconditioned'.
Instead the Scarlets admit they don't know when he will be back in action.
Patchell, 27, has not started for country or region since the World Cup third-place decider against New Zealand in Tokyo more than 15 months ago.
After recovering from shoulder surgery, his Scarlets comeback, against Connacht last March, fell victim to lockdown.
Since then Patchell's progress has been disrupted by concussion issues.
The latest bulletin on Ross Moriarty raises doubt over whether the Dragons flanker can complete his recovery from ankle surgery in time for the Ireland match. Such uncertainty will strengthen the prospects of Dan Lydiate making an international comeback at 33.
He had been amongst the most automatic of Test blindsides before suffering a serious knee injury against Australia in Cardiff more than two years ago. Lydiate has not played for Wales since and while he won't be around for the next World Cup, recent performances for a resurgent Ospreys will be hard to ignore.
Pivac will reveal this week whether his forward planning for the next World Cup is to be tempered by a pragmatic approach on the time-honoured basis of win today and win tomorrow. He can name his Six Nations squad safe in the knowledge that the risk of further injury has been eliminated along with two weeks of European action.
Alun Wyn Jones is said to be ‘ahead of schedule' in his recovery from the ankle damage which has laid him low since the home win over Italy six weeks ago. Wales still think his presence against Ireland, and that of second row partner Jake Ball, is ‘touch and go.'
