Hadden recalls Hines to Scotland XV

Nathan Hines returns to the Scotland team for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash with Italy.

The Perpignan second-row forward, 30, replaces Jim Hamilton in the only change made by head coach Frank Hadden to the starting line-up.

Australia-born Hines made his international return off the bench in Scotland’s last Six Nations match, against Wales, on February 10. He had been absent for a long stretch after breaking his foot on Perpignan duty last March.

Hines will win a 40th cap, while second-row partner Scott Murray makes an 82nd appearance, bringing him level with Gregor Townsend’s Scotland record.

With Edinburgh wing Simon Webster ruled out of the Murrayfield match by an ankle injury, Glasgow Warriors back Andrew Henderson fills in on the bench.

SCOTLAND v Italy: H Southwell (Edinburgh); S Lamont (Northampton), M Di Rollo (Edinburgh), R Dewey (Edinburgh), C Paterson (Edinburgh, captain); P Godman (Edinburgh), C Cusiter (Border Reivers); G Kerr (Borders), D Hall (Edinburgh), E Murray (Glasgow Warriors), N Hines (Perpignan), S Murray (Edinburgh), S Taylor (Edinburgh), D Callam (Edinburgh), K Brown (Borders).

Substitutes: R Ford (Borders), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), J Hamilton (Leicester), A Hogg (Edinburgh), R Lawson (Gloucester), A Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), N Walker (Ospreys).