Scotland winger Sean Lamont has called on rugby's authorities to review the laws of the game that led to fly-half Finn Russell being banned for two weeks after colliding with his Welsh opposite number Dan Biggar during Scotland's RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales at BT Murayfield last week.

Russell was handed the suspension by a Six Nations discipline panel whose members agreed that his collision with Biggar merited a red card rather than the yellow he was shown at the time. However, the incident has caused anger and consternation throughout the sport, with most observers agreeing that Russell, who clearly backed out of any challenge on the airborne Biggar, had no other option at the time.

Lamont, 34, the most experienced player in the Scotland squad, with 92 caps to his name, said that the law protecting players in the air is now open to abuse.

"The law is quite old," said Lamont. "Maybe in the modern game it needs a little bit of adapting. The laws have changed in a lot of areas.

"Player safety is a massive thing, of course. But it works both ways. If you're throwing yourself up at a ball, and you're going above and putting your centre of gravity above someone, then yes, you can topple over with somebody just standing under.

"The letter of law says what it is, but it's got to work both ways. I think the law was brought in to protect the receiving player, somebody jumping into someone, but it's become such a good weapon, the attacking kick, that people can throw themselves up and make it a 50-50 ball."

It is understood that the Scottish Rugby Union received the discipline's full written judgement yesterday and have two days in which to appeal. The governing body has already stated its intention to do that, but the uncertainty hanging over Russell is bound to hamper squad preparations for Saturday's clash with Italy in the national stadium.

Meanwhile, although there is no direct replacement for Russell among their number, five players have been added to the Scotland training squad ahead of the Italy match.

Sale scrum-half Chris Cusiter returns as cover for Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, who is currently going through return-to-play concussion protocols. Props Moray Low and Alex Allan come in for Jon Welsh and Gordon Reid, who suffered hand and knee injuries in the Wales game, while No.8s Adam Ashe and Dave Denton return after overcoming neck and knee problems.