HINES INSISTS HE WILL DRAW ON HIS EXPERIENCE TO EASE THE PRESSURE ON PLAYERS
NATHAN HINES has a reputation for being straight to the point and headstrong, which landed him in trouble on occasions on and off the pitch through a colourful 16-year playing career in Europe.
It is no surprise when he defends controversial World Cup selections nor takes a pot at Scotland’s mentality in previous tournaments.
When he was invited to join the Scotland management team in the summer by Vern Cotter, there was a ripple of amusement among some observers, and players, at how his wilder side might be tamed.
But Cotter knew what he was getting because Hines had become an ally in French rugby, a respected player he could turn to for advice on the dressing room and use to guide youngsters to his way of thinking. It worked with some of those in opposition last night, notably France centre Wes Fofa
A veteran of 77 Tests since a debut against New Zealand in 2000, an three World Cups and a British and Irish Lions tour before internatinational retirement in 2011, Hines is filling that same desire in Scotland for a
sounding board between players and management.
‘I just try to be fair whether it’s guys I played with or not,’ he said.
‘I’ve been chucked in at the deep end and expected to contribute the same as every other coach with specific responsibility for line-out defence.
‘I am probably more of a sounding board for the players because I stopped playing recently (he finally hung up his boots at Sale last season). Vern wanted to draw on my experiences because we have a lot of guys who have never played in the World Cup and it is different; the pressure, the scrutiny you’re under.’
Hines is never one to live on the periphery, and he quickly states that he was involved in this week’s selection of the World Cup squad, and the surprises at second row and openside flank.
Lock Tim Swinson had given up on his World Cup dream after ankle surgery in June, but Hines reveals that he was the coaches’ top choice to offer cover for the second row and back row, so when he returned to full fitness last month and played for Glasgow against Canada last week, he leapfrogged Rob Harley back to that status.
In the contentious back-row picks, we expected two from the openside trio of John Hardie, Blair Cowan and John Barclay, but instead only Hardie was picked.
That was controversial because he flew into Scotland just seven weeks ago, and six weeks into the camp, and played just 55 minutes in the ‘trial’ warm-up against Italy in Turin, so making it hard to believe that Cotter had not guaranteed him the spot.
Hines insisted: ‘That is not what we were told. It was really tough because we have quality players across the back row. John [Barclay] was brought back in because we knew what he could bring to the World Cup — he was never here to make up the numbers.
‘All of them were told that they had a chance and it was up to them to prove they deserved it.
‘We made the decision to go with one out-and-out openside flanker, and others that could cover more than one position, so it came down to one of those three, and the margins were small.
‘We watched them closely. Most people watch games at home on TV with family or friends, some maybe watch a replay, but we take five hours to go through a game, and believe me we see everything.
‘So it’s not like we’re making a blind decision. We watched John (Hardie) very closely in training — we play a lot of 15-a-side games — and scrutinised his game against Italy, and he impressed.
‘It was tough on John (Barclay) and Blair but sport at this level is really brutal.
‘There are choices you make with every team you pick, but that’s what head coaches are paid for, isn’t it?’