Robinson wants Hogg to run free
Scotland coach Andy Robinson has insisted Stuart Hogg will have the “freedom to play” when the teenage fullback makes his first Test start against France in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Glasgow tyro came off the bench to play in the side beaten 27-13 by Wales in Cardiff last time out and came desperately close to a try.
Hogg was one of four changes announced by former England coach Robinson when he unveiled his side to play World Cup finalists France.
In the backs, centre Graeme Morrison was recalled and scrum-half Mike Blair given a start while up front flanker John Barclay returned to the pack.
Robinson was adamant Hogg would not be fazed by the prospect of playing in front of a sell-out Murrayfield crowd of more than 67,000.
“His composure has been great, the way that he’s been able to handle the whole Test arena and his ambition to play as well.”
Hogg is from Hawick, one of Scotland’s great rugby strongholds in the Borders, and only made his Glasgow debut in February last year.
The teenager established himself in the Glasgow side while several senior players were with the Scotland squad at the World Cup and kept his place for European Cup games when the Warriors were back to full strength.
Hogg’s form led to a Scotland A call-up and he responded with a brilliant try from inside his own half in the 35-0 rout of England’s reserve Saxons.
That in turn led to his promotion to the senior matchday 22 in Cardiff and now Robinson is looking forward to seeing what Hogg can do from the kick-off in an international match.
“He’s got freedom to play,” Robinson added.
“He’s an individual. His character is great. The more the pressure, the more he wants to put himself up there.”
Scotland will be especially keen to beat France for the first time since 2006 as this Six Nations has so far seen them lose to both England and Wales.
Robinson, however, is convinced the attacking game he wants Scotland to play is the right way to go for his side — it’s just that they’ve paid dearly for individual errors in their opening two matches.
“The way we’ve tried to play is with the ball in hand and it’s because I believe that’s the best way we can achieve victories,” Robinson said.
“Where we’ve struggled is we’re being punished for errors that we’ve made. We’ve lost the games because of those errors.
“Those are individual errors, they’re not structural issues.”
AFP
