British and Irish Lions: Hogg on the Lions’ run

Stuart Hogg: 'Massive opportunity'. Picture: Getty

Scotland’s Stuart Hogg knows that, if he can produce one more exceptional performance in Canberra tomorrow, he could be the emerging star of 2013.

Hogg departed for Australia not only as the youngest and most junior player in the squad but, arguably, the third-choice full-back behind Wales’ Leigh Halfpenny and Ireland’s Rob Kearney.

Tomorrow, the versatile 20-year-old will start his second match at stand-off in what is likely be the Lions’ toughest game so far.

The Brumbies are the form side of the Southern Hemisphere’s Super 15 tournament this year, leading the competition with one game to go.

Against the Brumbies, Hogg will be leading a makeshift backline featuring four players making their Lions debuts and two who were not even in Australia when the team was announced yesterday. However, if the youngster from Hawick can lead this team to victory with an assured and polished performance against one of the best club sides in the world, then he may well find he has earned a place in the Lions squad for the first Test against the Wallabies in Saturday – not as a full-back, but as an out-and-out No 10.

Hogg is well aware of what is at stake and he insisted yesterday that, despite having to turn out for the Lions midweek side just four days before the first Test, all the players who were going to play tomorrow – including himself – knew they still had a chance of selection for that coveted Test squad.

“This is the last run out before the Tests and it’s a massive opportunity for the boys who are playing on Tuesday night to put their hands up for selection for Saturday,” Hogg said. “I am really looking forward to it,”

“I have got to keep training hard and, when it comes to the matches, I will give it my best shot. I am playing some decent rugby at the moment and want to continue that momentum. There is still plenty of time.”

Hogg revealed that he had been keen to get his hands on the No 10 shirt again following his first outing in it for the Lions last week. Hogg played a full 80 minutes at stand-off for the Lions against a Combined NSW/Queensland Country XV last Tuesday and,although he played well in the 64-0 victory, Hogg knows that he cannot really be judged in that position until he has faced  quality opposition like the Brumbies.

The Borderer continued: “It was good to have a shot against Combined Country, but I imagine the Brumbies – in fact, I know the Brumbies – will be tougher opposition, so I’m going to have to step up my game again and it’s another challenge I am looking forward to.

“To be honest, [and] not being disrespectful to the Combined Country, they did not provide really tough competition. I am going to have to up my game again on Tuesday and take it from that game into this one. It will be a lot tougher this week, but that’s what I wanted – I wanted another stint at ten.”

Warren Gatland, the head coach of the British and Irish Lions, will be watching Hogg’s performance closely. Irish stand-off Jonny Sexton appears to be guaranteed the starting slot at ten against the Wallabies in next week’s first Test, but Hogg could do enough tomorrow to displace England’s Owen Farrell as the second stand-off in the squad. Farrell’s performances on the tour have been patchy so far and Hogg could jump ahead of the Englishman, particularly if he can show his all-round game is sound, including kicking from the tee.

Hogg said he was “definitely looking forward” to starting at stand-off again this week. He said he had learned a great deal playing with such experienced centres as Brian O’Driscoll outside him, but he will not have that to rely on this week, with a largely untested and inexperienced backline outside him.

The two centres, England’s Billy Twelvetrees and Brad Barritt, have only just arrived in Australia, while the two wingers, England’s Christian Wade and the veteran Welshman Shane Williams, were not even in the country when the team was announced yesterday.

Hogg said: “It is easy stepping up to ten when you have the likes of Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Roberts outside you. It’s going to be a wee bit different this week, with maybe less experience in Billy Twelvetrees and Brad Barritt, but, again, they are two quality players. I’m pretty excited, to be honest.”

Hogg is also aware of how tough the Lions’ opponents will be, explaining: “The Brumbies are going well this  season, they are playing some nice rugby, they have got some good players there and they will present a massive challenge for us.

“Watching them play, they are a  pretty straight up-and-down team – they will run through you rather than going round you. We have to tighten up our game in defence.”

Hogg does also have the reassurance of having two of his Scottish colleagues in Richie Gray and Ryan Grant in the team for tomorrow after Gray shook off a shoulder injury to take his place in the line-up. “To have Ryan and Richie alongside me is pretty good,” said Hogg.

He added that, although tomorrow’s game is primarily about securing a win, it is also about continuity for that  First Test.

“It is massively important to get a win to keep the momentum going,” Hogg said. “A win here would do that going into the Test and keep us six out of six.”