Let’s all enjoy Hogg while we can
WiTH stuart Hogg in the final year of his Glasgow Warriors contract, we need to enjoy him while we can. There will be massive interest from teams in england and France for his signature as he looks set to leave next summer.
Before then, don’t take Hogg for granted just because he is under our noses week after week, unlike the only other world-class scotland player, Finn Russell, who now plays his rugby for Racing 92 in France.
losing Hogg would be a massive blow to Glasgow Warriors as his performance against Connacht in the Pro14 opener in Galway showed. With him in the Warriors starting XV, anything is possible.
His superb long-range drop goal under pressure five minutes from time which secured Warriors a one-point victory was testament to that.
For good measure, he also set up a first-minute try for Tommy seymour and was involved in the build up to Adam Ashe’s touchdown in a man-of-the-match display.
Hogg seems to rise to the occasion when there is greater responsibility on his shoulders, whether for scotland or Glasgow.
Who will ever forget his lungbusting run against new Zealand last november when only a superb tackle from Beauden Barrett stopped him from scoring in the corner?
When he isn’t around, he is badly missed. in Glasgow’s most important game of last season against scarlets in the Pro14 semi-final, he had to pull out at the last minute through illness. Without him, Glasgow lacked spark and lost.
Warriors head coach Dave Rennie knows his importance.
‘He was excellent, but not just at what was obvious against Connacht like his kicking and running from deep,’ said Rennie on his return from Galway.
‘it was his first drop goal at this level and he bangs them over in training and nails them for 60 yards regularly. it was really smart to drop back in the pocket like he did.
‘Obviously he also kicked a pretty important conversion and he laid on the first try. His contribution is also around leadership with this Glasgow team.’
Rennie knows that Hogg needs to stay fit for his team to mount any sort of challenge.
There’s no ready-made replacement for him, with Ruaridh Jackson, who also covers at fly-half, the closest he has got. Apart from that Rennie’s options are as deep as a puddle unless he wants to play winger Tommy seymour out of position.
That is sure to be a big concern for the coach as Hogg will be away with scotland for their four games in november and five matches in the six nations. Without him, things won’t be easy for his team.
star player, game changer, world-class performer and the only specialist full-back in the Glasgow Warriors squad.
no wonder Hogg is far and away their key player in what could be his last season at scotstoun and why Rennie wants him to remain injury-free and available.