The whole HOGG
Full-back fit and ready to give his all for Rennie before the season ends
As statistics go, it is an eye-opener. in the 16 months since Dave Rennie took over at Glasgow Warriors, he has been able to call on his star player stuart Hogg just nine times.
Nine appearances in almost a season and a half. single figures. Less than ten...
it has almost gone unnoticed that due to injury and international duty, Hogg has been posted missing when it comes to the Warriors.
He is desperate to change all that before the season ends. Determined to show Rennie his true worth before he leaves for Exeter chiefs in the summer. and ahead of six Nations involvement in the new year.
Hogg gets the perfect chance against Lyon in the Heineken champions cup at the weekend after declaring he is ‘ready to rock and roll’ in France.
‘i’m looking forward to playing for Glasgow again,’ said Hogg. ‘it has been a frustrating old year and a half and i think i have only played nine games since Dave came in.
‘i want to show Dave what i am all about and really put my stamp on the Glasgow jersey. it has been a frustrating time but i am excited to be back and i am ready to rock and roll.
‘i want to go out on a high in my final season with Glasgow — but it is not just about me and personal accolades. it is about the team getting to the best possible place we can.
‘i want to play my part in it and the boys are in a good place going into our European games. i am looking forward to the weekend and helping the team to victory.’
injury and scotland call-ups have curtailed Hogg’s appearances to just two this season, both in the Guinness Pro14, and only seven the campaign before that.
His problems started in the summer Rennie joined the club when he had to have eye surgery after picking up a freak injury on the 2017 British and irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
since then, there have been other injury setbacks which have made him realise the importance of treating every game as if it could be his last.
‘i have learned a lot about my body in the last year and a half,’ said Hogg. ‘i fractured my eye socket, had shoulder reconstruction, tore a muscle in my abs. Lots of different things.
‘this is my ninth year in professional rugby at Glasgow and i am fully aware of what has to be done and i try to look after myself in the best possible way i can.
‘i enjoy playing for Glasgow, i enjoy playing for scotland. i make the most of every opportunity because you never know, it could be your last.’
Hogg believes it is hard, even after studying videos of Lyon to gauge how they will play because having so many overseas players in their ranks makes them difficult to read.
‘French rugby is full of foreigners, so it is difficult as the way they play this season has changed,’ said Hogg. ‘they will work hard but if we take all our opportunities, they will switch off and lie down a little bit.
‘Here’s hoping we can make the most of our attack shape and get stuck into them in defence and come away with a win.’
Rennie is delighted to have Hogg back for the match and is confident he will be a key player until he leaves to join Exeter.
‘i tease him a lot because he has played two games this year and about six or seven last year, so he’s on about a million dollars per game at the moment,’ said Rennie. ‘He’s a fantastic player, as we know. He’s really passionate about playing for his club, and we’re keen to get him out there as often as we can.
‘Hoggy’s been here a lot of years and he’s desperate to go out on a high note, so we’re more than comfortable with picking him when we can up until the end of the season.’
Meanwhile, Warriors prop alex allan has been banned for three weeks after being sent off against scarlets last weekend.
the 26-year-old will now have to sit out the back-to-back matches against Lyon and the Pro14 match against Edinburgh three days before christmas.