READY TO CAUSE A FRIGHT
Bold Hogg is all set to do a Barclay on England
STUART HOGG is confident he can put the frighteners on England — just as his team-mate, and now captain, John Barclay has done to him all through the Six Nations.
In a series of amusing posts on social media, that have since gone viral, the new Scotland skipper has been jumping out from behind pillars and even out of cupboards as he looks to spook his star player.
Yet, while Hogg may be scared to walk the corridors of the Scotland team hotel in London, he will not have any Twickenham terror when he takes the field against England today.
‘I have zero confidence walking along the corridors as I am worried that Barcs is going to jump out, but will have lots of confidence playing with him at Twickenham,’ said Hogg.
‘I will be trying to get to bed and Barcs will jump out of the cupboard. I have tried to get him back but he does not scare very easy and I have got his room-mate Ryan Wilson involved, so here’s hoping I can get him back.
‘In saying that, I’m sitting here shaking today but for once that is nothing to do with Barcs. It’s because I am just so excited. I can’t wait to get out there and play against England.’
Being kept on his toes by his captain in such a way has a deeper meaning for Hogg. For him, it shows the relaxed atmosphere in the Scotland camp in the run up to the Calcutta Cup clash that has helped the players go into the game in the correct frame of mind.
‘Barcs trying to scare me has been the running joke through the Six Nations and shows the good spirit and relaxed atmosphere in the camp,’ he said.
‘That has helped us in our preparation as being spooked by Barcs provided some light relief for us all, especially ahead of such a big game like the England one.
‘We know the challenge ahead from England and no more scaring until after the match now. We know we are more than capable of winning. We are going to do everything we possibly can to make that happen.’
It was perhaps another indication of how relaxed the current Scotland squad are that they decided not to hold the traditional captain’s run at Twickenham yesterday, but instead on a pitch in a local school opposite the team hotel.
It is virtually unheard of for an international team on the eve of a big game not to familiarise themselves with a stadium and the dressing rooms. Yet, only Scotland fly-half Finn Russell went to Twickenham to practise his kicking.
Hogg said the team did not think it necessary to make the relatively short 20-minute journey from the team hotel to the home of English rugby because they had ‘been there before’.
He explained: ‘Without meaning to sound cheeky, Twickenham is two sets of goal-posts and a stadium.
‘We got out there on the pitch near the team hotel and did all the session work we needed. We also have an hour-and-a-half before kick-off to see what Twickenham is like and also we have been there before.’
England defence coach Paul Gustard talked up Hogg at their captain’s run at Twickenham yesterday, making clear he saw the full-back as the main threat to his side. And Hogg knows he will be targeted from the start with an aerial bombardment designed to knock him off his stride.
‘You are never the complete player and there are always going to be weaknesses in your game and you could say defence is one of mine,’ he admitted. ‘I work incredibly hard on it.
‘When things are going well, there is always going to be someone to put you down and pick on areas of your game. I am fully aware my defence isn’t the strongest but feel ready to do well in that area against England.’
Attack-wise, Hogg is a different proposition. And it is his ability to create as well as score tries that makes Scotland attack coach Jason O’Halloran understand why the English will single him out for special treatment.
‘I can see why England would target him,’ said O’Halloran. ‘He is a top player but I am confident Stuart will play to his best and help the team to victory.’