The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hogg turns attention to Pro12
Scotland star’s focus now on Glasgow and push for Pro12 and Euro glory
Stuart Hogg has revealed he wasted no time in switching his devotion to Glasgow after helping Scotland smash Italy.
Now the Six Nations player of the championship is determined to help the Warriors keep alive their slim Pro12 title hopes by inflicting the same degree of pain on champions Connacht.
And Hogg wants to dedicate a win at Scotstoun tonight to old stager Sean Lamont, who hangs up his boots at the end of the campaign.
Fresh from scooping the Six Nations man of the season for the second year on the trot, he said: “Gregor Townsend asked me on Sunday how my body was after Murrayfield and I made it clear to him I was fine to go again for Glasgow immediately.
“I am full of confidence in the wake of a decent Six Nations – the only thing that changes is the shirt.
“I am hugely excited about the challenges that will come over the next few weeks, especially the one offered by Connact and then Saracens in the quarter finals of the European Champions Cup.
“We need to build momentum. We’re in a sticky situation in terms of our league position, but it’s up to us to get back up into the top four We’re more than capable of doing so and the surge starts this weekend.”
“We were devastated to lose to Connacht twice at the end of last season and we must create a strong springboard at Scotstoun.”
On Lamont’s impending departure, Hogg stressed: “He has been one of my best pals since I became part of the Scotland squad.
“It was great to seem him come back for a second stint with the Warriors and he has added a huge amount to my game.
“He’s looked after me incredibly well and I put down a lot of my success to the guidance of Sean. He’s had an incredible career but he’s also an incredible person.”
Perth-born Lamont starts on the right wing as Townsend brings back a sprinkling of his Six Nations troops, including halfbacks Finn Russell and Ali Price.