'I'm really nervous' - Stuart Hogg admits he isn't comfortable playing number 10 role for Scotland
Nervous Scotland skipper Stuart Hogg admits he will be firmly outside of his comfort zone as he pulls on Finn Russell’s number 10 jersey this Saturday.
The British and Irish Lions full-back will start a Scotland Test at stand-off for the first time as Italy arrive for their Guinness Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.
Hogg has brief experience of taking on the playmaking duties – including a midweek tour match with the Lions back in 2013, while he finished last week’s defeat to Ireland in the pivot role after Russell went off with a concussion.
With head-injury protocols meaning the Racing 92 star is now ruled out of facing the Azzurri, coach Gregor Townsend has opted to push Hogg forward to spearhead Scotland’s attack rather than go with Edinburgh’s Jaco van der Walt.
And while the Exeter Chief may be world-renowned for his abilities at 15, Hogg admits he will be shaking in his boots as he steps into Russell’s shoes against the Italians.
He said: “Is there any trepidation? Oh yeah, 100 per cent. I’m really nervous about the game.
“But to get the best out of people you have to put them in an uncomfortable position. This is the perfect scenario for me – I am not comfortable (at 10).
“I’m happy to play 10 but I’m not going to go into the game with as much confidence as I would be playing 15. But I’m excited about the challenge – even though it’s going to make me un-comfy at times.
“I am a big believer in my own ability and when Gregor asked me if I wanted to play 10 I said, ‘Whatever is best for the team’. Gregor wouldn’t ask me those questions if he didn’t believe in me.
“It’s a new challenge and a first opportunity for me to start at 10 for Scotland. Obviously it would be ideal if Finn was fit but these things happen.
“Finn and Jaco have both been outstanding this week helping me along the way.
“I feel a huge amount of confidence going into the game because Gregor and the coaches have given me this opportunity to express myself.
“I’m excited for it. It gets me involved in the game a little bit more. I might not have the time and space I’m used to but it’s another challenge I’m looking forward to.”
'We played against him in the Champions Cup and the skill and speed of the guy is something else.'https://t.co/X0tb5TkA3X
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 20, 2021
But Hogg insists he will not be attempting any of Russell’s maverick manoeuvres.
“I am not going to sit here and say I’m anything like Finn Russell,” he said with a wry grin. “No-one in world rugby is the same as Finn.
“I’m not even going to try to be him. The big thing for me is getting my basics right, making sure I get in the right positions and allow us to go forward with good momentum.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Rugby Union are still waiting for final confirmation that they will have access to their English Premiership stars for next week’s rearranged clash with France in Paris.
Huge rugby names taking care of business in Japan. https://t.co/lOEApCVcE8
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 20, 2021
Hogg and Chiefs team-mates Sam Skinner and Jonny Gray are among those who could be barred from playing if clubs south of the border decide not to release their stars for a game that lies outside the international window.
But there is hope an agreement is close after Worcester Warriors confirmed back-rower Cornell du Preez would be released so long as “it is on the same financial terms as English players are released to the RFU”.
For now, though, Hogg remains in the dark.
“We’ve just got to let the powers that be make the decisions,” he said. “All I’m concentrating on is playing the Italians tomorrow.
“It’s a decision that’s outwith my hands so therefore it’s pointless me chatting about it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments