DRIVING FORCE
‘World-class’ Hogg will be huge for Exeter but Skinner can’t wait to have a travel buddy
THERE is only so much late-night radio you can listen to. Only so much coffee you can drink. And only so many ways you can try to break the monotony of it all.
As someone who now frequently makes the journey up the M6 and M74, Sam Skinner may as well have a loyalty card for every shop at Gretna Green services.
From his base in the west country, the Exeter Chiefs man could probably drive the road in his sleep thanks to his regular trips to and from the Scotland camp.
As of next season, though, he can look forward to a bit of company. Someone to pass the time with, chew the fat, and, of course, discuss the various merits of bleached blonde hair.
Stuart Hogg will be joining Skinner at Exeter for the new campaign, with the Scotland star completing a lucrative move to the Gallagher Premiership runners-up after the conclusion of the World Cup.
Having a travel buddy is one thing, but Skinner insists that Hogg (right) could well provide the injection of rocket fuel required to take Exeter to the next level.
‘Hoggy will be massive for us, in terms of leadership and driving the standards we need,’ said the 24-year-old.
‘In key moments, a high ball here, a pass here or there, he will give us those finishing touches, which is really exciting.
‘As a club, we just need that top two inches to finish games off now. We just need that extra killer instinct to take some trophies home.
‘I am excited for him, he has already met up with the guys down at Exeter. It should be an exciting couple of years.
‘He spoke to me a fair bit about it before he moved. I was thrilled for him and excited for us to have a world-class player.
‘If I can keep myself in the Scotland mix, I look forward to having somebody to travel up and down the road with.
‘A travel pal, exactly. I’m sure Hoggy will get some nice freebies along the way. So I’ll stand in the slips and take whatever I can get!’
There would certainly seem no reason why Skinner shouldn’t be able to keep himself in the mix heading towards the World Cup. Since making his debut against Fiji in the autumn last year, he has made a huge impression on Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend and, indeed, his team-mates around him. It was obvious just how highly Townsend rates him in the Six Nations earlier this year. After suffering an injury in the opening game against Italy and being unable to feature in the next three games, Skinner was drafted straight back in for the epic showdown at Twickenham as soon as he had regained fitness. He started that match at blindside flanker but, despite his versatility almost guaranteeing him a ticket to Japan for the World Cup, he is keen to nail down a regular spot in the second row. ‘In terms of my position, I think it’s more a case of me being second row who can play in the back row, rather than the other way round,’ said the man who regularly calls the Exeter line-out. ‘Having said that, I’ve probably played more in the back row for Scotland so far. I’m just happy to play wherever they pick me.
‘But, obviously, I want to nail down one spot and I would prefer that to be in the second row.’
Preparing for his first World Cup campaign is a completely new experience to Skinner, one which he dreamt of as a boy since watching Scotland’s nail-biting clash with Fiji in Australia in 2003.
On that day, Scotland required a late try from prop Tom Smith and a Chris Paterson conversion to deny a Fijian side who were led by the metronomic boot of Nicky Little and the mercurial talents of their thunderous winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca.
Skinner is now determined to make the final cut for Townsend’s 31-man squad and write his own chapter of history.
‘It’s all a new experience for me and one I’m definitely enjoying,’ he added. ‘I think we’re in a good place. We had a big injury-hit during the Six Nations.
‘But now you look around the squad and we’ve got almost three excellent sides who could play at any point in a World Cup. There is real depth there.
‘It’s definitely a driver (to make the final squad). You can’t be comfortable thinking that you’re going to be on that plane.
‘So, for me, that’s definitely a factor. But ultimately we’re all pushing in the same direction.’