Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

The Exeter reaction to last week's bristling Stuart Hogg interview

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Exeter boss Rob Baxter has hailed the winter contribution of Stuart Hogg to the Chiefs, explaining that the Scotland captain’s desire to remain at the club and his form in last Saturday’s win over Bristol was exemplary leadership by someone who couldn’t make the starting team for the business end of last season’s Gallagher Premiership title chase.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hogg was dropped to the bench for the semi-final and final matches last June versus Sale and Harlequins and it sparked the suggestion that the Scottish full-back might opt to leave the club next summer and continue his career elsewhere amid a reduced salary cap climate where Exeter recently confirmed the end of season departures of second row internationals Jonny Hill and Sam Skinner. 

However, the 29-year-old came out forcibly last week to nip that ‘quit’ speculation in the bud. Rather than have an axe to grind over last June’s demotion, Hogg insisted he had already committed to staying at Exeter for the foreseeable future, telling local BBC radio: “I was lucky enough to re-sign last year during Covid times and the only thing that wasn’t disclosed was the time we were staying for. I was getting a bit hacked off reading all that kind of stuff and the rumours going around about where I was going.”

Video Spacer

Joyeux Noel & The European Dilemma | Le French Rugby Podcast | Episode 11

Benji’s back to tell us about his try-scoring exploits in Dubai, Johnnie’s navigated travel chaos to make it home for Christmas and we look back on a weekend where politics played its part and Castres were the only French side in action in the Champions Cup. We assess whether the whole of Round 2 should have been postponed as the Top 14 sides wanted, whether there’s going to be an asterisk by the name of the winner once more and what’s next for European rugby this season. Plus, there’s some hot coaching gossip and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com

Video Spacer

Joyeux Noel & The European Dilemma | Le French Rugby Podcast | Episode 11

Benji’s back to tell us about his try-scoring exploits in Dubai, Johnnie’s navigated travel chaos to make it home for Christmas and we look back on a weekend where politics played its part and Castres were the only French side in action in the Champions Cup. We assess whether the whole of Round 2 should have been postponed as the Top 14 sides wanted, whether there’s going to be an asterisk by the name of the winner once more and what’s next for European rugby this season. Plus, there’s some hot coaching gossip and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
Use the code FRENCHPOD10 at checkout for 10% off any full price item at Meater.com

Having joined from Glasgow in 2019, it means Hogg will be at Exeter for some time yet and how the Scotsman spoke last week about his relationship with the Chiefs and then followed it up with a try-scoring performance versus Bristol greatly pleased Baxter. 

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s trip to title-holders Harlequins, who defeated Exeter in the final where Hogg only featured off the bench, Baxter said his player’s comments last week were “very important”. 

“People need to sometimes backtrack a little bit. The challenge for a player isn’t necessarily when things are going well and the right way. At the end of last season, I took the decision to leave Stuart out and put him on the bench for big games. For a guy of his standing and being an international captain, that would have been tough to take and I know it was tough, we had discussions about it but he has come back this season and played exceptionally well. 

“He has been one of our most high-level consistent performers and that says so much about him and the way he wants to play and what he wants to achieve here at Exeter, I can’t speak highly enough of people who respond like that. 

ADVERTISEMENT

“You want responses and you hope the guys take things in the right way and from what I have seen from Stuart he has come back and has got on with things exceptionally well. He looks very, very motivated, has very emotionally bought into what we are trying to achieve and that is all I can ask of any player.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 24 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically. I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

25 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'Crikey': Son of league legend Martin Offiah picked by England U18s 'Crikey': Son of league legend Martin Offiah picked by England U18s
Search