Former Scotland and Lions forward Nathan Hines believes that Scottish players could force themselves into contention for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour even if Scotland fail to uncover significant improvement in the RBS Six Nations.
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Scotland slumped to 12th place in the world rankings after autumn Test defeats to New Zealand, South Africa and Tonga, leaving Scottish supporters despairing at the prospects of seeing Scots in Lions colours on the tour to Singapore and Australia this year. Lions head coach Warren Gatland admitted this week he felt Scottish players faced a major challenge to win his vote.
“It wouldn’t bother me if I picked 15 Englishmen if I thought they were best equipped to beat Australia,” he said.
“I don’t think the make-up of the team is the main criteria for getting the job done, although I believe all four nations should have representations in the squad for the morale of the tour. That’s why I hope that Scotland enjoy a good Six Nations but I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn to say representation for the Scots is challenging.”
Hines was one of only two Scottish players initially selected for the last tour, to South Africa in 2009, alongside Euan Murray, with Ross Ford called up as a replacement for Jerry Flannery and Mike Blair a replacement for Tomas O’Leary, but only Ford appeared in a Test match, as a replacement in the final Test. Murray, Ford and Blair are all contenders again, but they have suffered this season with poor form, injury or, with Blair, the fact he is playing in France’s second division.
Lock Richie Gray is a strong candidate, but his claims are suffering while new club Sale founder at the foot of the Aviva Premiership, flanker Ross Rennie and scrum-half Chris Cusiter are quality players currently injured.
Other talents such as Tim Visser, Stuart Hogg, Matt Scott, Ryan Grant, Kelly Brown and David Denton are all affected by Scotland’s poor form.
Hines agrees with Gatland’s thinking, and insisted that it would be tough for Scotland to improve on four tourists this time, but he told players not to give up hope even if Scotland’s recovery is not instant.
“There’s no doubt that we will be struggling if Scotland keep going the way we are,” he said, “but, apart from England’s win over the All Blacks, there were not a lot of great performances from the Home Nations in 2012 or loads of players putting their hands up. Our guys still have a good chance if they can pick up form in the Six Nations. Guys like Richie Gray and Dave Denton are good players, but they have to be more consistent to be selected for Lions level. It is a big step up and I don’t think Richie has played really well in more than a couple of games for Scotland in the past two years. Now he needs to string them together.
“Mike [Blair] isn’t playing top rugby and Euan [Murray] has not been playing consistently, so I can’t see anyone holding their hand up yet. People will say that our guys have no chance while the Scotland team is struggling, but, actually, if they concentrate on making sure their own performances are up to standard game after game that won’t matter as much.
“Obviously, it helps if Scotland are winning, but the key thing in a Lions year is that you have to play to a high level consistently well and if the Scottish guys can do that in the Six Nations then not only will they have a chance of getting the Lions call but Scotland’s results should improve as well.”