The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hat-trickster Horne ‘had a ball’
Three-try World Cup performance just the start for ex-Howe star
George Horne is already in the history books as the first Scottish scrum-half to score a hat-trick in an international game but one gets the impression this is only the beginning.
The 24-year-old former Howe of Fife player and Strathallan School pupil romped over for three scores in Scotland’s 61-0 hammering of Russia in Shizuoka, playing in the same team with his elder brother Pete in the Rugby World Cup and having a ball.
“It was pretty cool, very special,” he said.
“I love scoring tries and I love winning games. To get a hat-trick was fantastic.
“There have been a lot of great scrumhalves over the years for Scotland and that record is really special. It was good to impact on the team positively. I could have had a fourth and I was pretty gutted when that was disallowed but the game was in the bag by then.”
“But the biggest positive was another shut out. That was massive. We base our game on defence and if we can do that against Japan there is no reason why we can’t beat them by what we need.”
George and Pete’s parents, Garry and Hazel, were unable to come out to Japan for the Rugby World Cup, but the guys know they are watching.
“It will be massive for them,” he said. “They are our biggest fans and without them we would not be here playing. I bet back home mum and dad would be shedding a tear watching us.
“Japan would be a massive game and we are buzzing already. They are the kind of games you want to play in at the World Cup.”
George had praise for his Glasgow team mate and half-back partner Adam Hastings.
“He was fantastic, his kicking game was outstanding,” said the scrum-half.
“His running game on the ball was so dangerous, and I’m delighted for him.”
The hat-trick hero claims he was hard done by after being denied a recordequalling fourth try.
He thought he had equalled the fourtry haul Gavin Hastings recorded against the Ivory Coast back in 1995 as he got over the line again.
The Glasgow player was played in by Magnus Bradbury to score, but his celebrations were cut short by referee Wayne Barnes as he ruled the pass was forward after consulting the TMO.
But Horne reckons the footage was inconclusive, saying: “I’d need to look back at it but I think it was a bit harsh.
“When you put a spin on the ball it’s always going to look a bit forward but we got the job done so it’s not too bad.
“That’s the first hat-trick I’ve scored since I was probably back at school. I haven’t scored one for Glasgow so it would be a few years ago since my last.”
He added: “To do what we did in the way that we did was surreal but I’m just buzzing. Now we just need to focus on the
Japan game on Sunday. If we can perform the way we know we can then hopefully we’ll get the win.”
Hastings got the official man-of-thematch award for his two tries and 26 points in all with eight conversions, but gave great credit to his friend and partner.
“It’s so fun to play outside George when he’s like that,” he said.
“The forwards were really brutal at the breakdown and we were getting a lot of quick ball.
“There was loads of chat outside me with Pete so I felt really comfortable. We wanted to put on a mature performance and show we can run the ball.
“I spoke to Finn (Russell) at half-time and full-time, like we do every day. Every week it’s a team effort.”
Hastings’ parents, former Lions captain Gavin and mum Diane, were present at the game.
“It was great to have my parents here, my aunt and uncle too,” he said.
“So it just makes the whole experience one to remember. It was really pleasing, I wasn’t aware of it being our third biggest win ever. I probably should have had a few more points too if I am honest.
“We are not getting ahead of ourselves. There are still things we can do so much better.
“We spoke about being patient against the Russians, we knew we needed a bonus point in an ideal world but we couldn’t push it too early.
“We needed a performance. We kicked to the corners really well and I thought George and Pete kicked well too. It needed a quality team performance and that’s what we delivered.”