Analysis: Why Stuart Hogg's shortened Six Nations campaign provides hope for the future
Scotland’s captain Stuart Hogg has long been a star of the international game, breaking off mesmerizing runs, beating defenders with dazzling footwork and scoring tries that few in world rugby can.
This year’s Six Nations campaign has seen Hogg continue his evolution as a player, transitioning from a player that performs feats of brilliance himself to a playmaker that creates opportunities for the teammates around him.
Despite two publicized blunders, more than ever before he is playing a mature hand in Scotland’s game plan, not just having to be the special weapon that searches for home runs on every touch of the ball.
In the early rounds of last year’s campaign, Scotland’s attack was hampered by lateral ball runners and, at times, an overeagerness to make defenders miss one-on-one tackles.
In the above example, Scotland had Ireland compromised with a numbers disadvantage but couldn’t capitalise, as Ireland used a jockey/slide defence to choke Scotland out to the sideline.
A lack of direct running and non-committal passing by Scotland failed to use this overlap, with Hogg himself crabbing across into Huw Jones’ path and taking away space from the outside men.
This contrasted with the opening stages in Dublin this year, when Scotland started with a 5-minute barrage of possession that almost knocked down Ireland’s door.
It was noticeable just how direct the attack was, with far more impetus on engaging defenders into contact and straight running lines.
On Hogg’s second touch of the game, he plays a calm hand drawing Gary Ringrose into contact and preserving the outside space.
After a slight bounce to the outside of Josh van der Flier, he straightens his angle and gives himself up to commit the Irish centre.
This play was that of a ball-playing fullback, able to use the threat posed by himself to selflessly open up space for others.
The red zone issues persisted, however, as Scotland were turned over deep inside the Irish 22 multiple times but, with a more direct attack, they weren’t short of opportunities.
Another simple touch from Hogg creates a try-scoring opportunity early in the second half.
Holding the defence from sliding, Hogg’s direct line coupled with a double pump of the ball gives a ton a space for Huw Jones. If not for a heads up play by Jordan Larmour to stamp out this break, Scotland would have waltzed over.
The Adam Hastings-Stuart Hogg tandem has really flourished with the once Glasgow Warriors teammates complementing one another well, without stepping on each other’s toes.
The one-two punch has delivered results as one player steps in to build on the other’s work. Both are capable of directing the play and getting the ball where it needs to be at the opportune time.
Late in the first half against France, Adam Hastings (10) takes on some disjointed French defence and weaves his way into the 22.
Hogg (15) originally looked for a support line, but then took over proceedings at first receiver on the next phase.
The rookie French replacement Matthieu Jalibert (22), subbed on early for Romain Ntamack, flies out of the line putting Hogg under pressure but also granting him an opportunity.
Hogg doesn’t overplay the situation, immediately pivoting to get the ball to space and finding Sam Johnson (12) rushing into a yawning hole.
Johnson links with Sean Maitland to send the winger over untouched in the corner.
Adam Hastings started the momentum and Stuart Hogg stepped up to deliver the final blow.
Scotland has been at their best under Gregor Townsend when they move quickly after making an initial puncture.
When they are playing badly, they often fail to keep the pressure on after making a line break, either by slowing down the play or resorting to carrying and squandering the chance to attack a punctured defensive line.
Having two directors of play to pull the strings has enabled Scotland to take those moments and find the space where necessary.
In the second half against France, it was Hastings returning the favour to capitalise on Hogg’s initial work.
So much of Scotland’s counter game in the past has revolved around giving Hogg carries from kick returns, getting the danger man the ball and seeing if he could conjure up some magic.
In this Six Nations, Scotland has been more diverse, looking to play whatever the best option is.
On this occasion, Maitland spreads the ball to Hogg in order to attack the opposite side.
Hogg knows if he can utilise some shielding and get on the outside of Paul Willemse, Scotland will have a 3-on-2 down the left edge.
Hogg is again willing to give himself up to free up his outside men. He has all options available with the ball out in two hands, able to play any one of them as late as possible.
He flirts with Virimi Vakatawa (13) and gets him to bite just as the ball is moved on to Chris Harris (13).
With Damian Penaud (14) pushing out to take the winger, Hogg’s work has manufactured a matchup for Harris on the trailing lock Paul Willemse (5), a speed mismatch for the Scottish centre.
Willemse is unable to catch him, and again the rookie Jalibert ends up making a bad read, over-eager to close from the backfield on the winger that Penaud already had covered, allowing Scotland to break away and breach Les Bleus’ 22.
This time it is Hastings stepping up to organise proceedings and make use of the fractured defence.
Scotland almost blows it by failing to get the ball wide straight away, much to the visible frustration of Sean Maitland (14).
This gave France more time to reset, but we see Hastings take ownership and he organises Scotland into a formation to run a set play using some ball-playing from Jamie Ritchie (6).
They set up a screen pass play to free up Hastings on the outside.
Fraser Brown (2) is used as a decoy runner to hold French lock Bernard le Roux (4), the second-to-last French defender on that edge, while Hastings gets a well-timed pullback pass from Jamie Ritchie (6).
The French fullback, Anthony Bouthier (15), is caught in no man’s land, allowing Hastings to fire the pass to a wide-open Sean Maitland.
The entire passage of play is classy work from both Stuart Hogg and Adam Hastings.
It shows how quickly a try can be manufactured when you have two ball-playing options at 10 and 15, especially if they are able to constructively work in tandem.
Hogg created the initial break using his outside backs and then Hastings steps up to the plate to quickly organise the side and fire another accurate pass to the open man, a direct role reversal of Maitland’s first try.
It is hard to see how Finn Russell could get back into the starting side now with how mature Hastings’ performances have been. Looking longer-term out to 2023, Hastings is the guy to keep moving forward with, no matter how good Russell can be.
This is a promising scenario for a Scotland side looking to re-find their mojo following the World Cup pool exit.
In this year’s Six Nations, they showed they are figuring out how to unlock sides with faster ball movement, building a much more efficient attack around straight-line running and two ball-playing options.
What’s more, as the tournament progressed they started executing the kill shot with more accuracy when the windows did open, without pushing 50-50 balls but playing with controlled tempo.
On the other side of the ball, Scotland’s defence was giving up nothing, conceding an average of one try per game and around 12 points. They were more aggressive, mobile and scrappy at the breakdown and despite not delivering dominants hits, they could frustrate any side to no end.
With their team built for speed, they have to keep moving towards this kind of expansive game when every other side is skewed towards power-based rugby.
While Wales are also trying to transition their game style under Pivac, Scotland at this stage looks significantly more comfortable.
This squad has the makings of a side that can end the Six Nations drought, with the right schedule, and a bit of luck without injury. That should give hope to any Scotland fan.
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
8 Go to comments