RETURN OF THE LOW-KEY LION
Grown-up Hogg promises he won’t hit the streets swigging lager in tight trunks this time
IT was a memorable image from a memorable tour. Yet, looking back now, Stuart Hogg would perhaps have swapped the picture of him parading around in a pair of red swimming trunks, clutching a bottle of lager, the morning after the Lions had secured a series win over Australia back in 2013 for something a little more demure.
The youngest player in that Lions squad, he had been restricted to a handful of appearances for the midweek side. It was, however, a learning experience, in more ways than one.
Now, at the age of 24 and with more than 50 Scotland caps under his belt, the Glasgow Warriors full-back is much more mature. Surely he wouldn’t indulge in such behaviour again if the Class of 2017 were to secure what would be a shock triumph against the All Blacks?
Hogg can’t stop the smile crossing his face as he thinks back to his sartorial shame.
‘I took a bit of stick off my dad at the time, but I’ve learned from that and I won’t be doing that again,’ he says, laughing loudly.
‘I’ve matured since the last Lions tour and playing against New Zealand in their own backyard this time round would be the ultimate challenge. This is why I play rugby, to take on the best.
‘I feel more than ready to go against them because I learned a lot four years ago, which helped me improve as a player. For example, I know for me to have a chance of making the Lions starting team against the All Blacks, I have to take my level of professionalism up another notch and never let it drop.
‘I learned from four years ago that I need to be professional 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I returned a better player and, as a man, learned a lot from the tour. It helped me mature on and off the pitch.
‘The experience from four years ago will help me this time out as I know a bit of what to expect and know a lot of the boys on this tour.
‘I stayed in touch with George North, Leigh Halfpenny and Conor Murray after 2013 and we’ve become great friends. This is a strong Lions squad, with world-class players throughout and I’m hugely honoured to be part of it.
‘I would like to have more Scots, obviously, but with the success England have had in recent years, it is right that they should have a lot of players in it.’
Back in 2013, Hogg was a peripheral figure, who never managed to play his way into the Test reckoning against Australia. Indeed, there was still a question mark over his best position, with Warren Gatland picking him at ten for a match against an Australian provincial side.
‘This time, I am going as an out-and-out 15 and I’ll be doing all I can to get that jersey,’ he insisted. ‘From now, it’s a case of working hard to try and win the jersey for the first Test. It is up to me to put the work in and make my case.’
It was always thought that Hogg would be picked for the Lions squad, with the only question being whether he would be favourite to start the first Test against the All Blacks.
However, while the rest of the country have had him on the plane for months, he insists he wasn’t taking anything for granted.
‘There’s been a lot of speculation over the last few weeks about who was going and who wasn’t going, but I tried to not let it affect me,’ said the man from Hawick. ‘There were people saying I’m going, people saying I’m not going. I put it to the back of my mind.
‘I never take anything for granted, whether that’s at Glasgow, with Scotland or for the Lions.
‘I was in two minds whether to watch the squad announcement on television or not.
‘At the last minute, I decided I would and I was sitting on the couch with my wife and little daughter Olivia as my son was sleeping in the other room.
‘I was just hugely excited to hear my name.
‘I probably pulled a hammy in the process, jumping about like a clown! I was so happy to be going.
‘I’ve now got a sore jaw for all of the smiling I’ve been doing since the announcement.’ When he heard Tommy Seymour’s name read out, he was straight on the phone to his Warriors team-mate to offer him his congratulations.
‘We were on the phone to each other and I called him an absolute legend,’ continued Hogg.
‘He’s incredible in the air and great at the high ball both in attack and defence.
‘I’ve got every confidence in sticking up a high ball for him to chase and knowing that he’s going to get that ball back.
‘I think that sets him apart from the other wingers. His finishing ability.
‘He’s got tries over the last few years and fully deserves his call-up. Here’s hoping that we can play together for the Lions.’