Hogg raring to blow ‘em away
STUART HOGG is banking on Scotland’s big-game experience to get them to the World Cup knockout stages – should the most talkedabout and controversial game of Japan 2019 go ahead today.
Typhoon Hagibis has dominated the build-up with World Rugby’s rigid refusal to countenance any rescheduling of the Yokohama showdown leaving the Scots in a precarious position ahead of their last group game.
Japan coach Jamie Joseph added to the pressure by claiming it would be an embarrassment if Scotland lost to the Brave Blossoms for the first time.
But full-back Hogg (right) said: “He’s entitled to his opinion, isn’t he? We’ll do our talking on the field.
“It’s a huge Test match for us but the majority of the squad have played in big games. There are a lot of boys with experience.
“We also have the coaches with all the experience from their playing days too. It’s going to be a hell of a ding-dong battle – for myself and a lot of the boys. This could be the biggest game of our careers but it is one we’re very much looking forward to.
“We know the strengths within our squad, we know our gameplan inside out. We know the challenges coming our way but we’re just focused on making sure we start the game in the best possible way.
“They are going to come out of the blocks firing. We have to match them and better them. These are the games as an international rugby player you want to be involved in.” A decision on whether the game could go ahead was due to be taken in the early hours of this morning, UK time.
Should the match go ahead, Scotland not only need to win but to do so by an eight-point margin or win with a try-scoring bonus point.
It leaves Japan in the box seat with quarter-final qualification within their grasp for the first time in their history.