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The 'scary, scary thing' Stuart Hogg has noticed about Finn Russell
Life is now very different for Stuart Hogg, the ex-rugby player. It was July 9 when he brought forward his planned retirement, scratching the idea that he could play for Scotland at the Rugby World Cup and then call it quits.
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Instead, the 31-year-old accelerated his goodbyes and just 10 days later, on July 19, was unveiled as a new TNT Sports pundit for the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season.
That new TV role was why he spent Wednesday morning hanging out with Finn Russell, his old Scotland and Glasgow pal, at the Bath training ground.
Hogg spent the last four years of his club career at Exeter after exiting the Warriors in 2019, one year after Russell, his fellow 31-year-old, upped sticks to head to Racing for a five-season stint that ended last summer with his decision to check out the Premiership.
Russell’s Bath career is just four games old but he has already made quite an impression, none more so than last Friday night when Johann van Graan’s team won 45-27 at Kingsholm.
"His ability to keep the ball alive… touches like Maradona, he loves all this sort of stuff. He's a showman" ?@StuartWHOGG_ & @dallaglio8 reflect on @BathRugby's victory over Gloucester, highlighting the impact of Finn Russell…#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/DFYh0jtESi
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 12, 2023
Just 19 months ago, Bath limped away from Gloucester on the back of a humiliating 0-64 hammering, so the strides being taken in recent times are significant and they will now look to continue that progress when they host Bristol at The Rec on Friday.
That’s a fixture that will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and by way of hyping things up, Hogg caught up with his former club and country teammate two days before the kick-off and the impression he took away from their midweek catch-up should have the rest of the Premiership on red alert.
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“I’ve just spent the morning with Finn and he seems to be really relaxed, chilled out even more so now he is closer to home,” explained Hogg when he checked in later on Wednesday with RugbyPass over the phone.
“He is a dad, he is really adapting to family life, he is more mature and more excited today than I have ever seen which is a scary, scary thing for people involved in the Premiership to be on the receiving end.
“Bath are very fortunate and lucky to have a player like Finn. He will make a massive difference on and off the field. He will start to build a game plan that suits him and also the players he has got – he has got some quality talent around him.
“Ollie Lawrence I believe is one of the best centres in the Premiership playing outside him and Ben Spencer has been incredible at nine throughout the best part of a decade in the Gallagher Premiership, so he has got some class players around him.
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“Last week you saw the difference in one split moment on the 60-minute mark, a penalty five yards right at the posts, pretty much smack bang in the middle, easiest three points to pick up but they had the confidence and belief to go and attack and they ended up getting a bonus point try on the back of that which is huge.
“The whole momentum (of a contest that was poised 24-20 before that penalty gamble) swung in their favour after that one period of play and they scored a couple of tries after that as well.
“These moments where you could potentially take the easy three and start again, that whole mindset has had a shift, has had a change, and Bath are backing their ability which is great to see. I wouldn’t be writing them off.”
Russell arrived in the Premiership off the back of a difficult World Cup where Scotland were eliminated at the pool stage. Has the slick way the out-half quickly got up to speed with the tempo of the league in England surprised Hogg?
“It was never in doubt, never in doubt. He’s a class act, a world-class talent who is really making a difference already in this Bath side. For years, the Premiership has had some box-office players. We have had (Charles) Piutau, (Semi) Radradra, many, many players and now we have got Finn Russell and Virimi Vakatawa involved in the Premiership. It’s absolutely massive.
“From a Bath point of view, they have been coming with something good the past year or so, a very, very difficult side to play against.
“Now I believe Finn Russell is the missing piece of the puzzle. There is a good old saying that you are only as good as your last game and last weekend, Bath with Finn Russell playing at 10, were incredible.
“They knocked over a good Gloucester side with a record away win which speaks volumes. Whether they will be there or thereabouts this season is something we will have to look at in a few weeks’ time but here and now I wouldn’t be writing them off to be top four.”
- Watch Bath vs Bristol exclusively live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 7pm on Friday, November 17. Stream the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Derby Weekend live on discovery+ or watch on TNT Sports channels on BT, Sky and Virgin Media. This isn’t Just Rugby, This is Personal. For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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