'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.”
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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.
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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
I think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to comments