Ban rules Hines out of Test

Published on Wednesday 24 June 2009 23:12

A FORGETTABLE tour for Scotland's Lions worsened in South Africa yesterday when Nathan Hines became the first of the British and Irish squad to be banned after he was cited for a dangerous 'spear' tackle in the 13-13 draw against the Emerging Springboks at Newlands on Tuesday.

Hines was suspended for one week for an illegal tackle on Wilhelm Steenkamp after attending a disciplinary hearing in Cape Town, but the Lions management are believed to feel the punishment is unwarranted and may exercise their right to appeal the ban within 24 hours. If no challenge to the verdict is made this morning, or an appeal is unsuccessful, it means Hines will be ruled out of Saturday's second Test against South Africa in Pretoria, although the 32-year-old lock would still be free to play in the series finale in Johannesburg a week later.

Although Hines was not selected for the first Test, he had appeared to be Scotland's only realistic hope of making the squad for the second match of the series. Edinburgh hooker Ross Ford failed to make any significant impact in the shadow team and scrum-half Mike Blair was the only substitute left on the bench on Tuesday.

Prop Euan Murray, tipped to play a key role in South Africa before the ten-match campaign began, limped out of the tour after he sprained an ankle during the Lions' 20-8 victory over the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth the Tuesday in the midweek before the first Test. The tourists lost that match 26-21 in Durban and Murray's enforced absence was bemoaned as the Lions were dominated in the scrum by the Springboks.

Hines, who harboured hopes of at least a place on the bench this weekend, and Murray were the only two Scots named in the initial British and Irish Lions squad, before Ford and Blair were handed late call-ups to replace Jerry Flannery and Tomas O'Leary respectively. The minimal Scots presence in the Lions touring party was criticised as a damning reflection on the international side's current standing, although Scotland A's success in the IRB Nations Cup last weekend and the beginning of a new era under Andy Robinson has since provided optimism for next season.

However, if 58-times capped Hines remains excluded from this weekend's Lions action, it will be another bitter disappointment for Scottish rugby.

The forward was cited for a dangerous tackle on Emerging Springboks' lock Steenkamp, and was represented at his hearing by Richard Smith QC. Lions manager Gerald Davies and head coach Ian McGeechan were also present at the hearing, held at Western Province Rugby Union in Newlands.

Judicial officer Alan Hudson, of Canada, found the Perpignan lock to be in breach of law 10.4 – lifting his opponent above the perpendicular and dropping him to the ground – after he was reported by New Zealand citing commissioner Steve Hinds.

The official complaint is a result of an incident in the ninth minute. Steenkamp was not injured in the tackle, but the pair clashed again in the 48th minute when Steenkamp took a short pass from Jano Vermaak and was lifted by Hines after a tackle by his fellow Lions lock Donncha O'Callaghan.