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Duo keen to restore pride in Paris

Monday 09th February 2009

Horrow show: Hines wants to right Wales wrongs

Nathan Hines and Max Evans are eager to help Scotland bounce back from their Wales mauling when they return to Six Nations action against France.

Neither player started Sunday's 26-13 defeat at Murrayfield, key forward Hines nursing a knee injury and livewire centre Evans deemed good enough only for a place among the substitutes.

Both looked on in horror as an experimental Scotland side were out-muscled and outclassed by the Grand Slam champions, who were far more comfortable victors than the scoreline suggests.

Their dominance up front was of particular concern, with Frank Hadden's new-look pack clearly missing the presence of Perpignan lock Hines and Northampton tighthead Euan Murray.

Hadden admitted after the game that neither was looking good for this weekend's trip to Paris - but Hines has on Monday said he is confident of being fit for Saturday.

"It's okay," he said of his knee injury, which was due to be reassessed this afternoon before Tuesday's team announcement.

"I'm pretty optimistic. Fingers crossed, I'll be playing."

Hines is itching to help bolster the tight five.

"You always want to do your bit, and the most effective way of doing that is to play," the lock said.

Evans was eventually thrown on for his second cap yesterday and came up with a superb solo try, demonstrating the quick feet and intelligent running that have made him such a big hit at Glasgow.

But the game was already over as a contest by that point, and Scotland must decide whether they can afford to ignore their flair men - who also include Chris Paterson and Evans' brother Thom - for a second week in succession.

"I'd love to start. That's the aim of every Scottish player - get the starting jersey," said Evans, who came on for the ineffective Ben Cairns.

"I felt for Cairnsy. He didn't quite get the platform he can play his best rugby off, so it'll be interesting next week to see what happens.

"[The meeting with France] could be my kind of game.

"There'll be a bit of anger, so I'm sure the players will come out firing - and whether I'm starting or not, I'll be doing the same."

And Hines reckons centre Evans, Paterson and replacement scrum-half Chris Cusiter have done their causes no harm at all.

"The guys who came on have put their hands up to be considered to start," he said.

"I think Max and Chris and Chris have done themselves a lot of favours by the way they played."

"Not a lot went right [on Sunday]. We were a bit flat and we we didn't dominate at all in attack or defence really.

"Wales just got a roll on, and they didn't need to play sparkling rugby really."

The 32-year-old dismissed suggestions Scotland's inability to cope with his and Murray's absence cast doubt on Hadden's claim this is the strongest squad of his near four-year tenure.

"I don't think it was because Euan and I were injured at all," said Hines.

"It's just unfortunate that a lot of the guys didn't play well. We've definitely got a lot of depth at the moment. I think it's more of a consistency thing."

Hines revealed the most frustrating aspect of yesterday's match was being powerless to prevent the defeat.

"You can't beat yourself up about it too much, because you can't do anything," he said, admitting the squad would travel to France with 'a little bit less confidence, but more determination'.

"You have a stumbling block at the start, and it will either galvanise you as a team - or things could get worse.

"I know the guys, and it's only going to give them more resolve to play better this weekend."