STUPENDOUS
Hogg dubs squad best he’s been in as Wallabies told to expect war
Stuart Hogg reckons this Scotland squad is the best in his nine years in the fold.
And he’s backed Gregor Townsend’s team to have the firepower to end Australia’s five-game winning run.
The skipper cut a frustrated figure the last time the pair met in 2017, despite a record 53-24 triumph.
Having been named in the starting line-up, Hogg ended up being injured in the warm-up and had to watch on.
Four years on, Hogg is more than ready to get stuck into rivals ranked third in the world – four places above Scotland – and now coached by exGlasgow Warriors boss Dave Rennie.
The full-back and fellow big guns Finn Russell and Duhan van der Merwe were unavailable for last week’s 60-14 triumph over Tonga.
That makes today at Murrayfield the first time since March’s 27-23 win over France that Townsend has been able to pick his first-choice side.
That blockbuster in Paris produced a sensational Six Nations success but Hogg believes they will have to play even better to wallop the Wallabies.
The 29-year-old said: “This is the best squad I’ve ever been involved in. Up front, in the midfield, in the back three, in fact everywhere, the competition for places is massive.
“It encourages us to work on our individual game even more.
“It’s not every year you get the opportunity to play these Southern Hemisphere teams. The last time I played against Australia was 2016, it doesn’t come around all the time.
“We like to challenge ourselves against the best. Australia are on a good streak at the moment and playing some bloody good rugby.
“But to be the best team in the world, we need to beat the best.
“Australia are certainly right up there. They’ll be really dangerous.
“They’ve got some incredible individuals up front and in the backline. They’ve got a game plan that will challenge any side in world rugby. But that comes with a huge opportunity
Stuart Bathgate
and a huge challenge to beat that. We’re excited about coming up against a very good attacking side because we believe our defence is up there with the best in the world. And attackwise, there are huge opportunities against their defence as well.”
Scotland pounced in the f inal moments in France after the home defence failed to clear their lines.
But Hogg does not anticipate the Aussies will be so generous.
He added: “When you put on the pitch the kind of perfect game plan you can execute, France would be right up there.
“Defensively we were very strong. Attack- wise, we played in the right areas, we took opportunities, we kept the scoreboard ticking over, played right to the end.
“That shows what we’re about – cons t ant l y working hard, showing what it means to play for our country. We have to match that and better it to be in with a chance of beating the Wallabies. I’ve read a fair bit about their squad and the loaded bench they’ve got... but so have we.”
Murrayfield will be full for the first time since March last year and Hogg admits “it would mean everything” to reward the faithful with a victory.
He said: “When we talk about fans we talk about our people – our families, our friends, our supporters, proud Scotsmen and women.
“Hopeful ly we can put on a performance they’re proud of.”