The improving national side failed to end their eight-year hoodoo at Lansdowne Road following a wet and miserable 15-9 defeat.

Chris Paterson's three penalties were overshadowed by Ronan O'Gara's five successful kicks.

But the 29-year-old is convinced Frank Hadden's men will go to Rome next week convinced they can get their first away win since 2002.

''It's not going to affect confidence,'' said Hines. ''We know we didn't play well and we know how well we can play.

''We hope for a better start next week and we will work really hard on the line-outs and take it from there.

''We will be desperate to put this behind us and what better way than with another away game against Italy next week?''

But Hines admits a repeat of their performance against Ireland and their poor away record will rumble on for another season.

The Italians produced a spirited performance to hold Wales in the Millennium Stadium.

''We just weren't very good,'' he said. ''But we can improve - we have to improve in the line-outs and elsewhere.

''The more the game went on we grew in confidence and started playing that bit better.

''The line-out has to be better and that is something we will take into next week.''

Scotland were disappointed with their performance and Hines thinks that shows just how far they have come under Hadden.

He added: ''We played pretty badly and we didn't lose by that many points but we have to collect ourselves.

''Italy must have played pretty well and they will be on a high from that so we're going to have our work cut out to beat them.

''In the first half we didn't have too much of the ball against Ireland and we didn't do too much when we had it.

''We had twice as much possession in the second half so we need to keep the ball a bit more and be a bit more in control.''