Hoggonwayhomeafter hearing eyesight at risk
STUART Hogg was warned that he risked losing his sight if he absorbed a further blow to his cheek injury.
Scotland full-back Hogg will miss the rest of the British and Irish Lions tour after sustaining a facial bone fracture during Saturday’s 12-3 win over the Crusaders.
Hogg collided unwittingly with Conor Murray’s elbow as the Ireland scrum-half sought to let the Glasgow star l aunch a counter-attack in the first half of the Crusaders clash.
The Lions hope a replacement will not be needed, but head coach Warren Gatland admitted they canvassed four specialists before ruling Hogg out of the rest of the New Zealand tour.
“It was just a freak accident,” Gatland said. “He’s absolutely gutted. We’re feeling for him.
“We saw about four different specialists: one of them said he’d be alright and another said it’s potentially serious and that he could lose his sight if he plays. We told him it was only a game of rugby and he understood that.”
Hogg revealed he cried upon hearing the news that he must return home.
“I am absolutely devastated to be leaving the Lions,” Hogg said. “It means everything to me to be part of this tour and when, on Monday night, I first got the news that I had suffered a facial fracture and had to come home, I cried.
“I have done several times since then, too. It is tough, really tough, to take. As much as I love being at home, I do not believe I am ready to go.
“It still has not quite sunk in yet that I am going. I feel my game has been getting better and better in New Zealand and was a lot more confident going into the second game against the Crusaders.”
Gatland said: “It is hugely disappointing for Stuart to have to return home early and for us to lose one of our touring party.
“Stuart has been a key member of our squad on and off the field and it is disappointing to see injury cut short his time with us in New Zealand.
“We all wish him the best with his recovery and we look forward to seeing him back in action in the future.”
Defence coach Andy Farrell suggested the tourists already had enough options to offset Hogg’s absence, but there was a further blow to Gatland yesterday when the Lions suffered their second defeat of the tour, going down 23-22 to the Highlanders.
The Lions surrendered a 22-13 second-half lead as the Highlanders triumphed after a late setpiece and the coach admitted they must quickly fix their creaking scrum after losing the setpiece battle.
Asked if the scrum had cost the Lions the match, Gatland said: “It has. And I thought in the first half there were one or two scrums where we put them under pressure.
“But yes overall they did get on top of us and we need to make sure we go and work hard over the next couple of weeks to make sure we rectify it.”