MY INSPIRATION
Hogg aims to honour memory of best pal with World Cup heroics
STUART HOGG will use the memory of a best pal tragically killed in a road accident as inspiration when Scotland begin their quest for World Cup glory against Ireland tomorrow.
The Scotland full-back was just 17 and travelling home from a sevens tournament in 2009 when the car he was travelling in crashed in the Borders.
Richard Wilkinson, who had won an argument with Hogg to sit in the passenger seat, was killed instantly. Hogg survived physically unscathed but the mental scars have never healed.
and he told Sportsmail: ‘What happened has never left me and Japan will be the perfect place to honour Richard’s memory in the best way possible.
‘Richard was a top rugby player himself, one of the best. He could have been here with me if things had been different. When I take the field in the World
Cup I will look up and say: “This one is for you”. If I am struggling out there against Ireland, or whoever, I will look up and ask: “Wilko, help me out”. When I score a try, I will look to the skies and make the “W” sign with my hands in his honour. ‘I am taking Richard along with me on a journey throughout my life and he will be with me in Japan. He is in my mind and thoughts every step of the way. ‘I will be doing everything I can to make him and his family proud in the World Cup. I will be doing everything in Japan in his memory. It is always good to think about him as he was such a great guy and always made me smile. ‘We are still a pair, still best pals, in my eyes. If we compete for, or even win the World Cup, and I don’t see why not, he will be the first person I think of and he will be among the first people I thank and mention. ‘He still matters so much to me and he will be with me in every stadium, everywhere I go in this World Cup.’ Hogg refuses to accept that Scotland go into the game against Ireland as underdogs and believes his side have a real shot of going all the way and lifting the trophy. ‘We have beaten Ireland and, at times, run them close in the past,’ he said as he prepares to win his 70th cap. ‘We respect but do not fear this Irish team. ‘I know how much this fixture matters to everybody in Scotland. We all do. ‘I believe I am a more mature player than I was at the 2015 World Cup and I have a lot of experience under my belt. ‘I am in a good place. Yes, my game has hit peaks and troughs for the last couple of years but I feel I can cope with anything now and bounce back. ‘Sometimes I get marked out of the game. Sometimes it has not been my day but I have learned a lot and am looking forward to playing in the World Cup. ‘I want to do well for Richard, my family, my team-mates, Hawick, and the whole country, Scotland supporters everywhere. ‘Why can’t we go and win the World Cup? That is the attitude I have.’