Hogg hacked off as Scotland aim to thwart France
STUART HOGG says Scotland are fired up to spoil France’s
Six Nations party and make themselves the toast ofWales.
Hogg expressed his annoyance that all the talk was of a first French title in more than a decade given the size of Scottish defeat that would require.
“A lot’s been said and it’s beginning to hack me off,” said the Scotland captain.
“We read a quote from one of their players saying they’ve got a trophy to win. As a proud Scotsman that hurt me a lot.”
France must win by 21 points and collect a four-try bonus point in order to pip Wales to the title. Had it been played a month ago as scheduled, Scotland would have been at full strength and France without 11 first-choice players who tested positive for coronavirus.
But it was postponed due to the outbreak, which followed French players leaving their bio-secure bubble to eat waffles in a cafe.
Four weeks on and France are back to full strength, while Scotland are able to pick only five players from English Premiership clubs due to the rearranged date being outside the agreed international window.
To add insult to injury, the official Twitter page for the France rugby team appeared to mock the episode by wishing their followers a “Happy International Waffle Day”.
Hogg refused to throw fuel on the fire, saying: “My opinion is one I’ll keep to myself.
“We’ll go quietly about our work and do it the right way – let our rugby do the talking. A lot’s been said about what they need to do, but if we win by eight points we finish the highest we’ve ever done in a Six Nations. That’s the motivation for us.”
France are favourites to win the game but with Racing 92 fly-half Finn Russell, below, pulling the strings for Scotland, Wales remain in the box seat to wear the crown for the second time in three years.
“Finn has been brilliant this week, analysing the French, helping us with the mindset of the French,” said full-back Hogg. “That will really help us.”
❑ IT HAS been revealed that the Lions’ planned tour of South Africa is not insured against a Covid-enforced cancellation.
Lions board member Steve Phillips said: “If there is some governmental intervention then the matter is taken out of our hands.”