'Stuart is massively OCD, really bad... Jonny can be a little bit superstitious about things'
England lock Jonny Hill has called a temporary ceasefire in winding up Exeter teammates Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray as Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland looms. Hill will lock horns with his fellow 2020 double winners when England launch their 2021 Guinness Six Nations defence at Twickenham in the 150th anniversary of international rugby’s oldest rivalry.
“We have spoken in previous weeks but it’s gone radio silent this week,” said Hill, who is keeping Courtney Lawes out of the starting XV after making his Test debut last autumn. “I’m pretty laid back and easy going but I know that Stuart and Jonny get a bit edgy towards the weekend.
“Before games I like to keep it natural. If I feel I need to do something or eat something, I will. But Jonny, especially, can be a little bit superstitious about things. He is a little bit different to me.
“I’ve seen him strap his legs three times before going out for a warm-up. He will put it on, look at it, take it off and then do it again. It’s not right really. Stuart is massively OCD, really bad. I’ll go past his bag and turn everything upside down to get under his skin a little bit.
“In the bag are Louis Vuitton washbags and Gucci glasses. He’s a very, very flash guy considering he is a farmer boy from Scotland. It will be nice to catch up with them after the game but right now I’m focusing on my performance.”
Eddie Jones reveals that Hill has developed considerably since leaving a good bit of himself behind in SA in 2018. https://t.co/L1F9hk4CId
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 4, 2021
Among the pivotal duels in the 139th meeting between England and Scotland will be Hill’s battle with Gray as Exeter’s all-conquering second row go head to head with the aim of returning to Sandy Park with Six Nations bragging rights.
Both players are 26 but Gray is vastly more experienced at Test level with 61 appearances to Hill’s four. “Jonny Gray is quite a quiet guy, but he has got the best out of me for sure,” Hill said.
“I would like to think I have helped him improve as a player as well. I enjoy playing alongside him and I’ll relish playing against him. We’re not too bad for comparing stats. He’s a top fella, but he does support Rangers…”
Hill may lack the star status of second row partner Maro Itoje, but Eddie Jones has made him fully aware of his value to the team. “In the autumn Eddie described me as a guy who works underneath the road,” Hill said.
“Working underneath the road means doing the things that some people wouldn’t see. It is the glue in a game of rugby. So doing the maul defending, the tackling, all the close outs and things like that. Front five sort of stuff.
“There are guys you need working on the road and there are guys you need working underneath it. I’m underneath quite a lot and I’m happy there doing those bits. That’s why I enjoy playing.”
Imagine rocking up to Twickenham without the most important tools of the trade ?#ENGvSCO #SixNations
https://t.co/7vRqmCmoAs— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 5, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
1 Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
42 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
122 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
6 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
122 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
42 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
6 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
122 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
42 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to comments