Hogg’s looking for atonement
SECOND chances in sport do not come around too often. It says much about both Stuart Hogg and his Glasgow Warriors team- mates, then, that r edemption of sorts is tantalisingly within reach.
Last May, the Scotland full-back watched from the stands at the RDS Showground, humbled and helpless, as Gregor Townsend’s men went down 34-12 to Leinster in the Pro12 play-off final. It was a chastening experience for all of a Warriors persuasion.
In the lead up to the game, Hogg had f allen out of f avour at Glasgow after allegedly talking to other clubs about a move away from Scotstoun a year before his c ontract was due to e nd. Unsurprisingly, that hadn’t gone down too well with head coach Townsend, who froze him out of the most important period of the season.
It was a bitter pill for Hogg to swallow. Yet, rather than try to force a move, he knuckled down and set about repairing some of the damage.
Last November, having impressed Townsend sufficiently, he signed a contract extension keeping him at Scotstoun until May 2017 at least.
And there’s little doubt that, this season, he has been one of Glasgow’s star performers, which made the groin strain he picked up i n the 34- 34 draw against Leinster three weeks ago a major cause for concern.
Speaking at BT Murrayfield yesterday, however, the 22-yearold said he expected to be fully fit for their visit to Connacht next weekend — with Glasgow once again in a strong position to reach the Pro12 final.
‘It was a huge disappointment missing out on last year’s final and this time round I very much want to be part of it,’ said Hogg. ‘It was tough to take not playing but we are in a good position to go all the way again and that could make up for missing out last season.
‘ I have l earned f rom what happened last year thanks to having a good couple of people behind the scenes helping me and now I am staying totally focused on getting fully fit and ready to help Glasgow lift s o me silverware.’
Glasgow may sit top of the table but have tough away matches against Connacht and Newport Gwent Dragons, then Ulster at home i n their final match at Scotstoun.
Finishing in the top two is their aim as it will give them home advantage in t he semi- f i nal play-off.
Peter Murchie was an able replacement in Glasgow’s home win over Cardiff last weekend when Hogg was injured but having the game-changing full-back fit for the business end of the season will be a huge boost to Townsend and his team.
‘Rehab is going well and, touch wood, I haven’t had a setback,’ said Hogg. ‘I am hoping to be back in contention for our next game against Connacht.
‘I am desperate to be back as we have a league to win and I want to play as big a part as possible.
‘I am really enjoying my rugby this season as you can see from the smile on my face when I play. I am looking forward to our final three games in the league with huge excitement as the club is in a very good place just now.
‘We are playing really well and we know exactly what we have to do to make the league play- offs. In the last three or four years we have been in semi-final and finals, so we know what it is about and we want t o be i n amongst it again, especially me after what happened last year.’
Hogg believes a run to the final would be a huge boost to Scottish rugby after the disappointment of the Six Nations. He was an everpresent in a Scotland side that was whitewashed and picked up the wooden spoon but he has been delighted at the way the Glasgow players have put that campaign behind them.
‘ That was t ough to t ake, especially as we provided the majority of the Scotland squad, but we have bounced back since then’ he said.
‘We are only looking forward now to our final three Pro12 games and hopefully making the play-off and then going on to win the league for the first time ever.
‘Also we have the World Cup just round the corner and, individually, a lot of the boys will want to be putting a marker down between now and then. We know there is a lot to play for as individuals and as a team over the next few weeks.’