LET THEM LOOSE
Russell and Hogg are licensed to thrill
SCOTLAND skipper Greig Laidlaw can’t wait to unleash the twin-pronged attack of Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell against Fiji at a sold-out BT Murrayfield today. All three were unavailable for last weekend’s defeat to Wales in Cardiff but head coach Gregor Townsend has wasted no time in getting them back in his starting XV. Hogg (right) has made a remarkable recovery from injury to take his place at full-back, while Laidlaw will partner Russell (left) in what is a formidable half-back combination.
The Scots will rely on Laidlaw’s steady hand to direct the likes of stand-off Russell and Hogg against a Fiji side not lacking in the flair department themselves.
‘You don’t want to rein in Finn too much but sometimes I give him a look and he understands,’ said the Clermont Auvergne scrum-half.
‘Sometimes that is important in international rugby. You have to say: “When do we play? When do we not play?” Finn is getting more of that understanding now. Moving away to the Top14 (with Racing) has helped him understand that.
‘He’s a wonderful talent and one I’m looking forward to playing beside, as are the other boys because he’s very good at finding space and reading defences. Against a team like Fiji that’s a great trait to have.
‘It’s up to Finn and myself essentially to control the game and
to do our jobs. I’ve got every belief in both of us that we can do that.’ Laidlaw and Russell were both forced to sit out last week as it fell outside the recognised international window, with their French clubs under no obligation to release them. Now they are both raring to go — and it is a huge boost knowing they have the world-class talents of Hogg alongside them. ‘Hoggy is a real thinker,’ continued Laidlaw. ‘He’s got a lot of strengths clearly with his speed and attacking game but leadership is something Hoggy’s matured into — and he captained the team during the summer. ‘His development has been brilliant and, even though he’s still so young, he’s had experience. Two Lions tours, Six Nations Player of the Tournament two years in a row. He’s a great talent to have and is a very good vice-captain.’ Laidlaw has also paid tribute to the Scotland supporters for selling out Murrayfield for today’s encounter. ‘We are well aware of when the stadium sells out so quickly and it has a positive effect on the players,’ he continued. Laidlaw last captained Scotland against France in the 2017 Six Nations where he picked up an ankle injury. In his absence, John Barclay and latterly Stuart McInally have taken over the captaincy. With Barclay injured and McInally on the bench, the leadership role against Fiji has been given to the 33-year-old, who is battling with Ali Price, George Horne, Henry Pyrgos and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne for the No 9 jersey. ‘That competition does drive me in one sense but in another I’ve always backed myself as a player,’ said Laidlaw, who has his eye on leading his country into the 2019 World Cup. ‘I’ve never hidden away from competition. I love the fact there is that in the Scotland team at the moment. ‘Ultimately, when you walk in to the changing room and you see your Scotland jersey hanging there, that is what I’m fighting for week in and week out because the feeling of playing for your country is hard to beat. I don’t want to give that up.’