Hogg times his big return to perfection
MEANINGLESS? Far from it. Glasgow Warriors host Exeter this afternoon with their European Champions Cup hopes long since extinguished but there will still be much at stake for both those on the pitch and in the stands.
A determination to avoid a six-match whitewash in Pool Three will certainly make its way into Dave Rennie’s pre-match pep talk at Scotstoun and, for the paying public, a performance filled with pride, passion and panache would make the admission fee worthwhile.
However, it is the return of Scotland’s world-class full-back Stuart Hogg, such a key figure for both club and country, that will demand the most attention.
The 25-year-old has been on the sidelines since a hip injury forced him out of the Test against Australia in November and he will be joined in today’s starting XV by international colleagues Tommy Seymour and Alex Dunbar.
With the Six Nations kicking off in a fortnight, the trio’s return is timely, although you wouldn’t blame Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend for watching the match through his fingers, should they not be already crossed.
Winger Seymour and centre Dunbar have returned from minor foot and knee injuries respectively, but there will be a collective sigh of relief around the country should Hogg come through unscathed against the English outfit.
‘Stuart being out for a while, well it is what it is, that is the nature of footy and guys get injured and you have to play without them,’ said Rennie.
‘Alex was close to coming back last week. Maybe there is a danger of putting all of those guys on the field who haven’t played much lately, but we are keen to get them game time with the experience they bring.
‘I guess what we are hoping is that come the end of the season (when going for the Guinness Pro14 title), we will have a lot of choices and a fit side.
‘People might say this is a dead rubber and the players will be looking ahead to the Six Nations already, but I don’t think so. They are all passionate Glasgow men and want to perform well for the jersey.
‘There is not a lot of heat on us this weekend, so we just want to go out and express ourselves, show there is plenty of fight and play for each other. If we can do that, we’ll have a reasonable day.
‘We are playing against an excellent side with a lot of life in them and they will be desperate, so we have to match that.
‘It will be a big test up front. Jonny Gray comes back (after being rested against Leinster) and outside of that it is the same pack who get another chance.’
Italian international Leonardo Sarto also returns from injury for the Warriors on the wing, while Finn Russell wears 10 after being rested last week.
George Horne gets the nod at nine with Ali Price set to make an impact off the bench and Rennie wants to see a reaction from his team after their 55-19 humbling by Leinster in Dublin six days ago.
‘Last week was hugely disappointing, mainly for the way we defended,’ said Rennie. ‘It was around little combination and decision-making issues and so on — and we got exposed by a bloody good side.
‘It is rugby at this level. If you are a couple of cogs off where you need to be at, and the other side is hot, then you can get a hiding.
‘A lot of the guys that we have brought back in have an international series that they are about to go into, so they are all very enthusiastic and keen to get back on the pitch and get a bit of form heading into that.
‘It is nice to have that firepower and experience back.
‘The result is probably irrelevant. It’s the quality of the performance that we are looking for. We have prepared well and we just need to put that on the park.’