Hogg vows Scots 'won't lie down' against England
LONDON: Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg has insisted his side will arrive at Twickenham on Saturday with real confidence they can at last end their threedecade wait for a win at England's headquarters.
You have to go back 34 years to find Scotland's last success at Twickenham, one of just four they've managed in more than a hundred years of visiting the southwest London ground.
Yet this season has already seen Scotland beat both Ireland and Wales at home in the Six Nations Championship and it's a measure of their progress that they, as well as England, have a chance of completing the Triple Crown on Saturday.
Scotland, however, face a tough task against an England side bidding to equal world champions New Zealand's record of 18 successive Test victories by a 'tier one' or major rugby union nation.
But Hogg, whose fine form this season has led him to be spoken of as the British and Irish Lions' starting fullback during their Test series in New Zealand later this year, does not lack for self-belief.
"We're more than capable of winning and we're going to do everything we can to make that happen," he said Friday.
"We talked a lot about our goals before the Six Nations and it's now about making those goals a reality.
"We're very much in a position to come down here and win -- and nothing is going to stand in our way."
He added: "We're not just going to lie down and get our bellies tickled, we're going to go out and try to get some victories."
Hogg has already scored three tries this Six Nations, but doubts remain about his defence -- although errors made by a fullback, rather like a soccer goalkeeper, are often obviously costly and all too easy to highlight.
Nevertheless, the 24-yearold Glasgow star know what to expect from England's backs on Saturday.
"Defensively I know I'll be challenged," Hogg said. "There will be high balls. George Ford or Owen Farrell or Mike Brown will stick them on me.
"I'm fully aware of what's coming. But it's just about being mature in the situation and dealing with it. I'm sitting here shaking, I just can't wait to get out there to play.
"No-one is the complete player, there are always going to be weaknesses to your game. Yeah, you could say defence is one of mine.
"When things are going well there is always going to be someone to put you down. I'm fully aware that my defence isn't the strongest, but I'll continue to work on it."