Scots keep Hines in reserve

SCOTLAND head coach Frank Hadden insists Nathan Hines was never going to be fully prepared in time for a start against England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Saturday.

The Perpignan lock was widely tipped to be included in the starting XV for the Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield following the suspension of Scott Murray.

But the 31-times capped Hines, who has returned to the international fold after quitting the Scots team a year ago under Matt Williams, will start on the bench.

Instead, Scott MacLeod of Border Reivers, who has six caps, will be given the opportunity to impress.

Hadden said: “Experience is not just about age. It is also about experience of the systems we are trying to play and the shape ofthe game.

“The line-out is a complex area and it seemed obvious that we make sure he is up to speed before he takes the field.

“There all sorts of calls and codes in our game. Nathan trained with us on Monday but I have not even given him any codes yet. So that is another step in his rehabilitation and it does take time.

“It is certainly not something which you can easily come straight into.

“Sometimes, your hand is forced and you have an element of control over it, but, if you have control over it, you want to do it right.”

But Hadden has stressed Hines, 29, will get the chance to add to his 31 Scotland appearances after the forward offered a long-term commitment to the team.

The Scotland boss added: “One of the most important things for me was that Nathan was not just available temporarily.

“That is one of the reasons it has taken a little while to secure that situation.

“There is absolutely no doubt he has a long-term commitment to playing for Scotland and everybody needs to be aware of that.”

Edinburgh Gunners hooker Dougie Hall is also reinstated in the front for the visit of England.

The 25-year-old was viewed as a weak link in the Six Nations opening win over France, where he missed his jumper at a number of line-outs.

But his replacement in the game against Wales, Scott Lawson, also had a limited number of line-out successes at the Millennium Stadium.

Lawson has now dropped out of the squad while Ross Ford of the Borders takes a place on the bench.

Hadden said: “The hooking situation is straightforward in that we have three guys competing for two places and it is extremely tight between them.

“We felt this was the appropriate way to do things this week.

“This whole selection business is a pretty private affair and there are a whole load of strategic considerations, which I don’t want to go into too much detail about.”

Edinburgh centre Marcus Di Rollo has also been named in the starting line-up with Hadden “99%” confident he has shrugged off a hamstring injury.

Full-back Josh Lewsey has recovered from a shoulder injury and been named in England’s team.

The only other change to the coach Andy Robinson’s starting XV that beat Italy is in the pack where prop Julian White replaces the injured Matt Stevens.

On the bench, Perpignan’s Perry Freshwater replaces White and hooker George Chuter replaces Lee Mears.

Lewsey’s return pushes Tom Voyce to the bench in place of James Simpson-Daniel.

England will be looking for a third successive win in this season’s Six Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday.