Hogg dedicates Six Nations player prize to ‘fantastic’ Scots
GLASGOW Warriors’ Stuart Hogg has credited the efforts of the entire Scotland team after being named as the player of the RBS 6 Nations.
The 23-year-old is the first Scot to win the award and the achievement is all the more remarkable in a season that saw his side lose more matches than they won and England achieve a Grand Slam.
“I’m obviously chuffed to bits to win it but that goes down to the team,” he said.
“I’ve played in a fantastic Scotland team over the last few weeks. Vern (Cotter, the Scotland coach) is big on everybody doing their own jobs, so I guess I must have done mine right.”
Hogg admitted, however, that for all the apparent upping of performances there is still considerable room for improvement in Scotland’s results.
The full-back, who identified his try against Ireland as his individual highlight, said: “We worked incredibly hard in the lead-up to the Six Nations and to get a couple of i mportant victories was exactly what we were after.
“But for us now that’s the minimum standard. We’ll continue to work hard individually and collectively and hopefully this ti me next year we’ll have a trophy in our hands.”
Having played for his country throughout the championship, Hogg is immediately back i n action for his club tonight, facing Irish opposition for a second successive weekend as the Warriors meet Ulster in what looks like being a vital match in their bid to defend their Guinness PRO12 title.
A total of 18 players who have been involved in Scotland’s Six Nations campaign have been selected, including club captain Jonny Gray.
He has recovered from the chest injury that ruled him out of the trip to Dublin last week, while Finn Russell, who missed that meeting with Ireland because of a head knock, is also in the Scotstoun starting XV Only Peter Horne, who has a groin injury, was left out because of injury as the Warriors look to continue a four-match winning run knowing they cannot afford to lose what is one of just two home matches in their last six scheduled league fixtures.
“It’s great to be back with the Glasgow boys,” Hogg said. “We’ve got a trophy to retain this season, so it’s going to be tough for us.
“We’re sixth in the table, they’re above us and it’s a massive test for us.”