'On another day we win that game' - Hogg refuses to blame Fagerson red card for loss to Wales
Scotland captain Stuart Hogg refused to blame a red card to prop Zander Fagerson for the loss to Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The hosts led by as much as 14 early on the match, but twice gave up leads as Wales fought valiantly for a crucial win. Both sides came into this clash having won their opening Six Nations clashes by five points, and equal on four competition points.
After Wales opened the scoring in the eighth minute through a Leigh Halfpenny penalty, Scotland largely dominated the opening half. Tries to winger Darcy Graham and captain Stuart Hogg saw Scotland run out to a 17-3 lead.
But as Wales coach Wayne Pivac later commented post-match, a try to 20-year-old winger Louis Rees-Zimmit was “vital for us going into the changeroom.” Wales trailed by nine heading into the break.
‘That felt back to us’https://t.co/gDdyd8IdJw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 13, 2021
There was a 14-point swing early in second-half, with replacement Gary Graham having a try disallowed by the TMO due to obstruction. Wales took advantage, going up the other end and scoring through Liam Williams soon after.
“For us we were very close to scoring seven points there and unfortunately we’ve ended up conceding. Look, it’s little things that are costing us. But the pleasing thing is we know exactly where we’ve going wrong,” Hogg said post-match.
“There’s been times in the past where we’ve made mistakes and we keep making them, whereas now I believe that’s a one-off in our ill-discipline. We’ll be much better prepared for the France game in terms of our discipline and we’ll get excited for that challenge.”
But arguably the turning point in the match was the red card to Fagerson, who caught Wales prop Wyn Jones’ high with a cleanout attempt. While controversial, it saw Scotland go down to 14 men with less than 30 minutes to play.
“We knew fine well that we could come back and bounce back from it, and we did. We played right to the very very end and on another day we win that game.
“It’s pointless me sitting here and expressing my views. Nothing is going to change now is it? It’s a red card and that’s what’s happened.”
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend also shared his view on what was a significant moment in the match, saying that going down to 14 men means that “it’s going to be more difficult” to walk away with a result.
“I didn’t think they had much of a discussion. I didn’t think they showed enough of the angles, I think they showed one slow-motion angle to begin with and then ages to find another one.
“The TMO did say, ‘yeah, you sure, because of the players’ late movement there’s no mitigation there.’ But I thought the whole process could have been much better.
“It’s obviously very serious when someone gets a red card and just felt that we didn’t show the angles right and have the proper discussion. There was a discussion between the team of three when they were waiting for angles and they seem to have made their mind up then. But we accept that or we get one with whatever decision the referees made and there’s nothing we can do about it now.”
While they went behind soon after, Scotland managed to take back the lead with 15 minutes to play, with Hogg crossing for his second.
But an incredible solo effort from Rees-Zimmit regained the lead for the visitors, who held on for a 25-24 win.
“He has obviously been watching rugby league tapes”#SixNations #ENGvITAhttps://t.co/H1xEFSwKjZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 13, 2021
“We’re bitterly disappointed. We talked all week about going out there and expressing ourselves and really taking it to Wales and we’ve done for large periods of the game. For us, we’re very much in control of the first-half especially, and then just a few moments didn’t quite go to plan.
“For us giving away penalties is one thing, conceding three or four on the bounce is unacceptable. In international rugby it’s going to cost you and it’s done that to us twice.”
After beating England last weekend at Twickenham, Scotland are still in the hunt for the Six Nations crown despite the loss. But their next match against France in Paris in two weeks’ time is set be a significant test for Scotland, as they come up one of the favourites of the competition.
“We’re very much focused on playing against France in a couple of weeks. If we get too far ahead of ourselves as I said last week, we’re going to slip up.
“We’ve got two weeks now to make sure that we’re mentally and physically prepared, we’re in the best place possible, and I fully believe we can go to France and win.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments