Old Warhorse Nathan Hines desperate to avenge Toulon ‘body blow’

Clermont second row Nathan Hines believes multi-tasking Saracens are a bigger threat to his side’s league and cup double-winning ambitions than Leicester were ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final showdown at Twickenham.
Beaten semi-finalists and finalists in 2012 and 2013 respectively, Clermont are desperate to bring down the curtain on head coach Vern Cotter’s eight-year reign by capturing European rugby’s most coveted silverware.
Cotter heads to Scotland this summer, while Hines is bound for Sale Sharks, but the former Scotland and Lions lock knows his side must step up their away form against Saracens if they are to deliver on their potential.
Clermont disposed of the Tigers 22-16 in their home quarter-final, but Hines told The Rugby Paper: “Sarries pose more of a threat around the field. They’ve got brilliant attackers and forwards who can carry, offload and pass.
“They’re all multi-taskers so that’s a big danger. They’ve also got a good defence and teams in the Premiership are putting very few points on them, so if they can do that and then get enough ball they’ll be really dangerous.
“They’re a better side than when we played them two years ago. They’ve had a taste of Europe now, reached quarter-final and semi-finals and have that experience, plus they’ve got an advantage in that they can rest people.
“But we’ve been in with a chance the last couple of years and fallen agonisingly short, so we’d like to go one better. Losing last year’s final to Toulon was a body blow. We’re still disappointed, so it’d be good to win it for Vern.
“When he first arrived the team wasn’t as strong and he’s moulded it into what it is now. But whether he’s leaving or I am doesn’t have a huge bearing on the ambition of the guys, because you want to do it as a group.
“You’ve only got to worry about one thing… Saracens!”
Saracens also have emotional reasons for wanting to do well, with skipper and lineout guru Steve Borthwick retiring in May. Hines has a healthy respect for his opposite number, adding: “Steve’s a great player and leader – their go-to man at the lineout – and he’s been a great servant, so they’ll rally round to give him the best possible finish.
“It’s a sad day for any player to retire but that emotion only goes so far and the best team is going to win – hopefully it’s us!”
At 37, Hines has no intention of quitting and, having signed a two year-deal at Sale, could conceivably play beyond his 40th birthday.
“It’s not an ambition, I’m just playing for as long as I feel okay and I’m not injured too much,” he said. “There are no concessions for pensioners at Clermont so I train every day and I’ve got the most minutes of any second row.
“I’m into my 25th game this season so as long as I’m rolling out for games and not playing too badly, they’ll keep playing me.”
NEALE HARVEY