BOSS HOGG!
SCOTLAND ON TOUR Townsend finally gives talisman the chance to show he has qualities to lead Scotland
Scotland talisman Stuart Hogg has waited 60 caps and six years for a chance to captain his country. there have been some bumps along the road for the full-back — a red card against Wales and a fall out with Gregor townsend at club level — but now the Hawick man will at last have the opportunity to show his leadership qualities.
It may be just an end-of-season match against the USa but, with two sets of brothers — the Fagersons and the Hornes — in the starting line-up, townsend’s team selection has made it an exciting one full of possibilities.
Especially as the man who has been handed the mission control in Houston has the talent to take Scotland into the stratosphere.
‘Hoggy has developed as a leader and he’s obviously one of our most experienced players,’ said townsend. ‘I discussed the potential of him being a captain in one of these games on tour a few weeks ago and he was really excited about it.’
the Scotland head coach has not ruled out Hogg keeping the captaincy but, with the likes of John Barclay, Greig laidlaw and Grant Gilchrist all having skippered the team recently, he may have to wait his turn.
‘We’ve obviously had two very successful captains the last two years in Greig and John,’ said townsend. ‘Stuart we see as a developing captain, too. He has also been vice-captain in a couple of games.
‘Whether Hoggy captains again is something to look at. He will be getting experience of being captain against the USa. We will see how he feels for it, how it went for him, and then we will see if there are more opportunities for him in the future.’
townsend admitted that, in the past, there had been ‘challenges’ for Hogg but insists the player has done a lot of growing up since making his Scotland debut as a teenager in 2012.
‘We all have challenges, especially with what he achieved at such a young age — playing for his country at 19, playing for the lions at 20, 21, playing outstanding rugby,’ he said.
‘there was a real worry that he might leave Glasgow, and him and I might not have a relationship back in his early days at the club.
‘I felt at the time that we had real potential to have a good relationship because we’re both from the Borders and both came through in the Scotland team at a very young age, but everybody’s different.
‘We got over that and it was great to see how he got his love of the game back.
‘obviously, there were other distractions that any young player, especially someone who has achieved as much as Hoggy, has to deal with. to get through that but also see him back on the training field first out, last to leave, is great to see.
‘He loves getting his hands on the ball. there’s a joy when you see him playing. the crowd feel it.’
Hogg will lead a stronger team than the one which beat canada 48-10 last weekend, with 12 changes in the starting XV from the match in Edmonton.
only second-row Ben toolis and winger Byron McGuigan keep their exact positions. Blair Kinghorn, who started at fullback against canada, moves to the wing to make way for Hogg.
adam Hastings starts at fly-half, while Horne brothers Peter and George — as well as Fagerson siblings Matt and Zander — will play in tandem for Scotland for the first time.
Selection surprises include tim Swinson, who usually plays in the second row, being named at openside flanker.
luke Hamilton, who is down as unattached on the team sheet although he has been linked to Glasgow, starts at openside flanker ahead of Jamie Ritchie.
‘there are seven players in that team making their first start for Scotland, so it is an exciting side and it will be exciting to see how they go,’ said townsend.
‘the new guys have earned their starts and are players in form. Guys like George Horne and adam Hastings. lewis carmichael had a really good impact off the bench against canada. Matt Fagerson deserves his debut.
‘around them there is a bit of experience like Hoggy and experience from the bench, too, that we will be using. If it is a tight game, we know the likes of Fraser Brown, Grant Gilchrist, dave denton, Sam Hidalgo-clyne and Mark Bennett are all experienced players who can come on and know the right way to win a game.
‘look, america will be tough to beat. they have won their last six games and put more than 60 points on Russia in the last one, so they have momentum.’