Hamilton and Hines back in the reckoning for Scotland

Published on Monday 9 March 2009 22:40

SCOTLAND have received a triple boost ahead of their penultimate RBS Six Nations Championship match against Ireland on Saturday, with Jim Hamilton, Nathan Hines and Rory Lamont pitching themselves back into training.

Hamilton is expected to be named this morning in the starting line-up for Scotland's bid to burst the Irish Grand Slam dream at Murrayfield, with Hines likely to feature on the bench and Lamont expected to be given another week to push his case for inclusion in the final match with England at Twickenham on Saturday week. Chris Paterson, Scotland's most-capped player, is also likely to return to the starting line-up for the first time in five Tests.

The squad returned to training at Murrayfield yesterday with those in club action on Sunday, including the Edinburgh players, being given a watching brief. Graham Steadman, the defence coach, acknowledged that the return of three key players from injury had intensified the selection debate, but while he insisted that rewarding the players who claimed the first victory of the championship against Italy was second to fielding the strongest side, much still hinged on their levels of fitness.

Hamilton suffered a shoulder injury against France in Paris and missed the Italy Test; Hines has yet to appear in the championship, having failed to shrug off a troublesome knee injury in January and had to undergo an operation; and Lamont has been out since mid-December, the full-back having damaged ankle ligaments playing for Sale against Montauban.

Lamont was not expected to return to action until April while Hines is a week ahead of schedule. Steadman, Scotland's defence coach, was cautious with forecasts, but admitted their presence had lifted the camp.

Steadman said: "To have the likes of Roy, Nathan and Jim back is a massive boost for the whole set-up. Rory is training with us with a view to seeing how far down the track he is in terms of his levels of fitness. I personally think this week will be a bit too soon for him.

"The early call on Jim is very positive. He has been given the green light and if he comes through he will figure in our selection process. Nathan, being the experienced pro he is, will give us the honesty call as to how he has come through. The time he has spent one-to-one with the medics is a credit to him and he has put himself in a position where he can certainly figure this week.

"I'm not being disrespectful to the Italians, but Ireland are on a three-game winning run and at the top of the ladder, and we've got to field the strongest team that is fit and available to beat them at the weekend. That will be very much at the forefront of our selection process, which was ongoing last night for several hours and will continue after today's session."

Team selection has been controversial in this championship, but players returning from injury brings its own headaches. Alasdair Dickinson is a straightforward replacement for the injured Allan Jacobsen at loosehead and, while Moray Low is next in waiting, as a tighthead he does not offer cover for both sides so the more versatile Ed Kalman, his Glasgow team-mate, could be in line for a Test debut.

Jason White is expected to remain in the middle row, with Hamilton returning at lock, and Hines and Al Kellock vying for the bench spot. The other main area of interest is the likely return of Paterson, whose showing against Italy surely convinced the coaches of his value.

"Off the back of the performance against Italy there will be one or two interesting selection posers for us," Steadman added, without giving anything away.

"There are a lot of things to take into account – the kicking options, the left foot of Hugo and the quality of Chris.

"Chris showed a great mentality to step off the bench and within 30 seconds put over what was a difficult kick under normal circumstances, and that's testament to the mentality of Chris Paterson."

Southwell and Paterson were given a half each in the full-back position by Edinburgh in Sunday's 13-6 defeat away to Scarlets. Southwell struggled playing into the wind in the first half, and although Paterson missed a penalty in the second he produced the more inventive performance of the two.

Steadman added: "Chris has also been a role model, a great senior pro; stepped back and accepted the fact he's on the bench and when he's got his opportunity he's fronted up and done a tremendous job for us. That's great for everyone in the squad – to see a senior player take that approach.

"One or two former players have not given him the support he deserved, but in some respects I think Chris has used that as a motivation, and done his talking on the field."

Probable Scotland team: C Paterson; S Danielli, M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans; P Godman, M Blair (capt); A Dickinson, R Ford, EMurray, J White, J Hamilton, A Strokosch, S Taylor, J Barclay.