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After weeks of disruption, Hogg reflects on one of his greatest days with Scotland
By Online Editors
Stuart Hogg says Scotland achieved something special after putting the brakes on France’s Grand Slam ambitions.
The full-back celebrated his first home win as captain as Gregor Townsend’s team stunned Les Blues 28-17 at Murrayfield.
Where England, Italy and Wales had all failed, Scotland succeeded as Sean Maitland’s double and a late score from Stuart McInally ended the clean sweep hopes of Fabien Galthie’s team in this season’s Guinness Six Nations.
And Hogg admits the victory is among his proudest in a dark blue jersey.
“It’s definitely up there,” said the Exeter Chief. “We talked before the game about how great memories are made by great opportunities.
“Today was a great opportunity for us as a 23 and as a country to achieve something special. I believe we’ve done that. We worked incredibly hard to give ourselves every opportunity of winning and I’m incredibly proud of the boys. We took it to France.”
France played out the final 44 minutes with 14 men after Mohamed Haouas’ moment of madness cost Les Bleus dear.
The prop saw red after landing a punch on Jamie Ritchie’s chin but Hogg insists the dismissal was not the key factor in the visitors’ downfall.
“It didn’t change what we wanted to do,” he said. “We wanted to be physical up front and exploit their blitz defence as a back line.
“We stuck to our plan. You get a feel for momentum. We discussed (kicking to the corner at 7-6 down) as leaders, we backed ourselves. Just after the red card, as well, we thought about going to the corner. The more we discussed it, we decided to take the three. We’ve got a good group of leaders and we trust each other.
“We spoke about staying together as a backline and not giving them an easy out to fly out and belt somebody. We took that away from them. The strength of theirs, we hopefully turned it into a weakness.
“We don’t strive for perfection because we believe it doesn’t exist. But we feel we’re in a good place.”
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Latest Comments
It is if he thinks he’s got hold of the ball and there is at least one other player between him and the ball carrier, which is why he has to reach around and over their heads. Not a deliberate action for me.
Go to commentsI understand, but England 30 years ago were a set piece focused kick heavy team not big on using backs.
Same as now.
South African sides from any period will have a big bunch of forwards smashing it up and a first five booting everything in their own half.
NZ until recently rarely if ever scrummed for penalties; the scrum is to attack from, broken play, not structured is what we’re after.
Same as now.
These are ways of playing very ingrained into the culture.
If you were in an English club team and were off to Fiji for a game against a club team you’d never heard of and had no footage of, how would you prepare?
For a forward dominated grind or would you assume they will throw the ball about because they are Fijian?
A Fiji way. An English way.
An Australian way depends on who you’ve scraped together that hasn’t been picked off by AFL or NRL, and that changes from generation to generation a lot of the time.
Actually, maybe that is their style. In fact, yes they have a style.
Nevermind. Fuggit I’ve typed it all out now.
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