Hines looks to curb Welsh enthusiasm
Scotland lock Nathan Hines claims Matt Williams’ side will have to cope with Wales’ boundless passion if the Scots are to have any chance of winning Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship encounter at Murrayfield.
The 28-year-old powerhouse admits the task of stopping the confident visitors, despite Wales having won in Edinburgh only once in 20 years, will not be an easy one.
He said: “At the moment they have got a truck load of enthusiasm, that is the difference in them this year from last year.
“They have got a great deal of character and a great spirit. The coaching staff have grabbed guys from different clubs, gelled them together and they look as if they have been playing together for years.
“They have stepped it up and they are throwing themselves into everything and we are just going to have to match them.”
The Scots go into the game on the back of their welcome victory over Italy, their first RBS 6 Nations win in two years, and Hines insists the confidence gained from the long-awaited win will help the dark blues’ cause no end.
He said: “There is less pressure for this match. Going into the Italy game, everyone expected us to win and there was pressure on us so it was a relief to get that victory and something we don’t have to worry about this week.
“If we glue all the parts of our game together then that is when our confidence is going to come. But it is going to be a good match-up between the two teams.”
