HOGG IN A HURRY
Stu races back to his best after ankle op
SCOTLAND superstar Stuart Hogg has been given the go-ahead to continue his big-stage career after completing an astonishing injury comeback. The Lions full-back had been given no chance of appearing in the autumn Test campaign in the wake of ankle surgery. But he will line-up against the tough guys of Fiji at Murrayfield tomorrow – a month before he was expected to return. Boss Gregor Townsend has also recalled frontliners Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell and Sean Maitland for the showdown. And there is a first cap for Exeter lineout specialist Sam Skinner, who threw in his lot with Scotland after appearing for England at age-group level. Townsend said: “Hoggy has trained for two weeks now and has recorded some excellent speed times – in fact they have been faster than most players have done in Scotland this year. “So physically, he is back at a very high level and that gives us reason to be confident he will perform really well this weekend. He has not played that much rugby this season so he will be fresher than other guys and could figure in all three remaining matches in the series.”
He is also delighted to have Russell back in the No.10 slot following brilliant displays for new club Racing 92.
And on the emergence of Skinner, Townsend said: “He has done great things with Exeter over the past couple of years.
“He’s a very mobile second row but has also played in the back-row.
“A lot of his strengths align with what we’re looking for – good decision-makers and skilful enough to run the right lines and make the right pass.
“We’ll need players like that at the World Cup in Japan next year, so this is a big chance for him to show what he can do.”
In midfield, the versatile Pete Horne has replaced Huw Jones, who missed tackles that led to two Welsh tries last week.
But Townsend insisted Jones was not being punished and added: “We just felt with Chris Harris able to cover the wing, it was the right decision to include him instead. We need to keep everybody as fresh as possible.”