Nathan Hines can return to the Scotland camp when ready

Andy Robinson says Nathan Hines will be given all the time he needs to tend to his sick mother-in-law after giving the lock compassionate leave for Scotland's tour of Argentina.

Robinson this on Wednesday omitted Hines from his 27-man squad for next month's two-match series, with the Leinster star due to fly home to his native Australia to help his wife take care of her mother.

But the Scotland head coach left the door open for Hines to link up with his team-mates in Argentina at any time during the tour.

"It's time for him to be there and if Nathan feels he can come across to Argentina at a later stage then we will leave that open for him to be able to do," said Robinson.

Scotland fly out to Buenos Aires on June 4, with the first Test taking place in Tucuman eight days later and the second in Mar del Plata a week after that.

Asked if there was any deadline for Hines' participation, Robinson said: "No, not at all."

Despite being Scotland's most experienced lock with 64 caps, Hines would have been an unlikely starter this summer.

The 33-year-old from Wagga Wagga endured an injury-hit RBS 6 Nations, which saw Alastair Kellock and Jim Hamilton forge a devastating second-row partnership, especially in the final match in Ireland.

Robinson said: "We were able to perform without Nathan for the Ireland game.

"Jim Hamilton and Al Kellock really dominated the lineout that day.

"And Richie Gray backed up really well in terms of his development.

"But Nathan's experience and ability really adds to the squad."

Scotland remain without injured trio Thom Evans, Chris Paterson and Rory Lamont for what will be Robinson's first tour in charge, with the head coach revealing not even the latter two were near being fit.

Another notable omission was centre Ben Cairns, with Edinburgh team-mate Jim Thompson preferred.

Thompson was the one uncapped player in the squad as Robinson stuck with the 22 who secured victory in Dublin and adding five added to that number.

Explaining the continuity of selection, he said: "That's the key aspect for us, developing a team that can grow.

"The guys deserve to be rewarded for what they did against Ireland.

"Also, we haven't been together for two months, so we go to Argentina and we've got to back up what we did against Ireland."

Robinson insisted there was no frustration at being forced to wait almost three months for another game after the win in Dublin and welcomed a break away from "the day-to-day rigours" of Test rugby.

The former Edinburgh boss also feels the momentum from the Ireland result has been maintained by his players for their club sides.

"It's been good that Glasgow have been performing well," said Robinson, who is confident the June 1 warm-up game with Japan at Murrayfield will blow away any cobwebs.

"Edinburgh, at times, have done well.

"The players individually in England and in the Magners League have been performing well.

"That's what we'll looking for.

"Part of the Japan game is to get that unity as quickly as possible."

Although this will be his first overseas trip in charge, Robinson was part of the coaching staff for Scotland's last trip to Argentina two years ago, which yieled a historic victory.

"They are bright rugby players," Robinson said of next month's opponents, who inflicted his first defeat as head coach back in November.

"They don't necessarily have the best lineout or the best attacking game or the best defensive game, but they're up there in every aspect of the game."