Should Hogg get a run at 10 for Scotland?

by **RDW** Tue 11 Jun 2013, 2:17 pm

First topic message reminder :

I know he has just had one game at 10, and it was against pretty poor opposition, but by all accounts it sound like Hogg had a strong game at 10 today. So that begs the question – should he be played at 10 for Scotland? I thought I’d look at the arguments.

For

Hogg is the most naturally gifted player in the Scotland squad.

He has a massive boot, good passer, outrageous sidestep and gas to burn.

He also has a good rugby brain and, at 20, has plenty time to develop.

Scotland have not had a good stand off for a long time, and lets face it our options for the future aren’t exactly setting the heather on fire.

Turns out he is a pretty good goal kicker – removes the reliance on Ladilaw

Against

Can Hogg produce for Scotland against top opposition when he has Matt Scott and De Luca outside him instead of Roberts and BoD, and his pack are getting a limited supply of ball?

Do we need to consider him at 10 when we have put a lot of time and effort into Weir, Jackson and youngsters such as Heathcoat, Leonard, Hunter, Rusell etc?

Do we sacrifice one of the best attacking fullbacks in NH rugby for a solid yet unspectacular fullback such as Tonks or Murchie?

Will Glasgow want to play Hogg there when they have plenty 10s but a limited number of 15s?

His tackling is generally pretty good but with the odd laps – is this an issue?

My view

Hogg is an incredible talent and, at 20, has a whole lot of developing still to do. At fullback he gives us real security with his big boot and a lethal counter attacking option. However I think it’s fair to say our current 10s are solid if unspectacular, and he could be the spark that sets off Scottish rugby.

However I don’t want him to be messed around like Mossy was and to a certain extent Laidlaw – he needs his position to be sorted.

Saying that my personal view is to continue the experiement for a season – primarily play him at 15 but slot him in for the odd game for Glasgow and maybe Scotland. This will give him time to decide whether he likes to play there, and also give the Scottish coaches time to determine whether he is a viable option.

by funnyExiledScot Fri 14 Jun 2013, 2:08 pm

Two quarter sensible comments don't count!

Anyway - don't let ASBO know you're seeing Bennett..... boxing

CS - agreed. The Glasgow backline is going to be pretty good next season, and DTH aside, all Scots qualified. Hats off to Lineen and Toonie I must say.

by 123456789 Fri 14 Jun 2013, 5:38 pm

Bennett has scored three tries in six appearances according to the Pro12 website although that's an impressive return I'm pretty sure he's scored more. His pace and angle coming onto the ball is superior to all other Scottish players and that's why he scores tries. I think he will eventually shift Dunbar to twelve where I think he is more effective anyway and it will provide an international challenge for Scott.
Next six nations I could see us with a backline of:

9. Kennedy
10. Weir
11. Visser
12. Scott
13. Bennett
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

20. Laidlaw
21. Dunbar
23. Lamont

That looks quite dynamic to me, Laidlaw is too slow for the other players Scotland have - if we had strong, powerful runners we have players like Hogg, Visser and Maitland who could be incredibly good with fast ball, add Bennett to that and combine Weir's kicking and Scott's playmaking we'd have a very large attacking threat. Kennedy is much quicker and would help to develop for the future, that backline is very young and has a core of Glasgow players with Visser who could fill the VDM role and Kennedy who could fill the Matawalu role (obviously it's very difficult but at least his passing is already better).

Our pack should be very competitive, stats show Grant and Murray make a lot of tackles and at his best Ford is very destructive. Gray is one of the best second rows in the world but I think Hamilton and Kellock come under the too slow category and Gilchrist is very passive, playing against him must be the equivalent of coming home to a labrador. Our back row could be Brown, Rennie and Beattie with Denton, MacInally, Wilson, Barclay, Fusaro, Strockosch and Harley providing cover. If only Hines had never retired Bennett, Hogg, Visser and Maitland would have been superb coming onto his offloads.

by EST Fri 14 Jun 2013, 6:33 pm

Glad that the consensus is that Dunbar is a better player at 12, I couldn't agree more. He doesn't quite have the gas for 13, and as was shown last week, this impacts his defence against top class opposition. At 12 he runs great angles, gets in good offloads and is less likely to be beaten on the outside. He and Scott both offer different options at 12, that can only be good for the national team.

Regarding Bennett, well I think he started to show last year his early promise. A try every second game (even though it was only 3/6) is good going.

by funnyExiledScot Sat 15 Jun 2013, 9:32 am

On the point about Dunbar's lack of gas causing the try last week, it was more his lack of positioning. He took far too long to get across and shut down that space out wide. You can't give any international winger that much space. He could have compensated for his pace with good positioning, as manu centres do when covering the wider channels. He got that wrong.

by MacKnocked-on Sat 15 Jun 2013, 11:46 am

Story in today's Scotsman, teenage Sharks centre Bradley Harper has been training with the Scotland squad this week.

by **RDW** Mon 17 Jun 2013, 8:55 am

Think it’s fair to say we’re going to get a better opportunity to see how Hogg copes at 10 tomorrow than the last game – 2nd ever game at 10 against one of the top Super XV teams, a backline he’s only just met and a geriatric on one wing.

Going to be a real challenge for Hogg – if he comes through this with his reputation intact or even enhanced it will be some achievement I think. Massive game for him.

by **George Carlin** Mon 17 Jun 2013, 9:11 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:Think it’s fair to say we’re going to get a better opportunity to see how Hogg copes at 10 tomorrow than the last game – 2nd ever game at 10 against one of the top Super XV teams, a backline he’s only just met and a geriatric on one wing.

Going to be a real challenge for Hogg – if he comes through this with his reputation intact or even enhanced it will be some achievement I think. Massive game for him.

At least Gatland's had the sense to say that he won't be choosing the test team until after this game - albeit that most people will believe there's only a couple of uncertainties in his mind by now.

The annoying thing about the midweek games is that often the fixation on the tests means that quality play midweek is often forgotten as soon as the match is over. If Hogg really does have a good game (and he will get a work out opposite Toomua), then I hope at least people stop and acknowledge it because it's a massive ask for a 20 year old who doesn't play that position very often.

Most people don't remember how good Charlie Hodgeson was with Cusiter in the midweek games for the Lions against the New Zealand franchises in 2005 but I do. No coincidence that dirttracker team went through that series unbeaten.

by **RDW** Mon 17 Jun 2013, 9:45 am

I really hope Hogg does well – it would be a massive achievement if he did considering he is only 20 and this is his 2nd ever game at 10, 3rd ever game as first choice goal kicker. Will be such a boost for the tour if we win this game and if we do he will have played a key part in that.

Let’s just hope he doesn’t have a total mare and is responsible for the Lions losing….!

by 123456789 Mon 17 Jun 2013, 12:48 pm

How well would this team have to perform to get into the test team, if Hogg scored a try, grabbed four assists and kicked all his goals, the centres didn't miss a tackle and each scored a try and grabbed a few assists and Kearney, Wade and Williams scored two each and played extremely well. Would Gatland replicate this backline for the first test?

by **RDW** Mon 17 Jun 2013, 12:52 pm

123456789 wrote:How well would this team have to perform to get into the test team, if Hogg scored a try, grabbed four assists and kicked all his goals, the centres didn't miss a tackle and each scored a try and grabbed a few assists and Kearney, Wade and Williams scored two each and played extremely well. Would Gatland replicate this backline for the first test?

I don't think any stand a chance really with most of them having just got off the plane or not played much (Kearny). The most likely (and even then very unlikely) possibility is that Hogg has a blinder and they use him as 10 cover on the bench.

Barring injury, can't see any of that backline getting near the starting team - 23 maybe.

by 123456789 Mon 17 Jun 2013, 12:53 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
123456789 wrote:How well would this team have to perform to get into the test team, if Hogg scored a try, grabbed four assists and kicked all his goals, the centres didn't miss a tackle and each scored a try and grabbed a few assists and Kearney, Wade and Williams scored two each and played extremely well. Would Gatland replicate this backline for the first test?

I don't think any stand a chance really with most of them having just got off the plane or not played much (Kearny). The most likely (and even then very unlikely) possibility is that Hogg has a blinder and they use him as 10 cover on the bench.

Barring injury, can't see any of that backline getting near the starting team - 23 maybe.

Well we all know that's unlikely with Papa Farrell about

by **RDW** Mon 17 Jun 2013, 12:54 pm

TBH I'd probably pick Farrell as backup 10 anyway.

by 123456789 Mon 17 Jun 2013, 12:55 pm

I'd agree with you there I think he's played quite well but seems to have suffered because he's not Dan Biggar or Jonny Wilkinson so he doesn't have the support of the Welsh or the English.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 17 Jun 2013, 1:05 pm

I don't think any of the Tuesday starting backs will feature in the starting XV for the 1st Test, but I agree that Hogg has a shot at the bench, and Youngs as well.

My concern is that the Lions do something silly like Woodward did in 2005, and use Farrell at 12 with Sexton at 10. Stuff of nightmares. I don't think Gatland is as eccentric as Woodward though.

Tomorrow is going to be a big challenge for the Lions. Four of the backs have barely just landed in Australia, and will have had next to no time to work in training as a unit. If Hogg can get that backline going, it'll be a fine achievement indeed. Thankfully he has a very strong pack to work with, and an excellent player at 9.

by **RDW** Mon 17 Jun 2013, 1:23 pm

Do people think Kearny's arrival back on the scene could ruin Hogg's chances of a bench place?

by funnyExiledScot Mon 17 Jun 2013, 1:34 pm

Nope - can't see Kearney being involved in the Test squad. If Gatland gambles on North he may want a specialist wing to cover him on the bench. Still, I think Hogg has a very decent chance of making the Test bench.

Those injuries have really made a mess of things. I'm gutted that Roberts might miss out, and that Tuilagi isn't looking fit enough to cover him. It's really thrown a spanner in the works.

by justified sinner Mon 17 Jun 2013, 8:14 pm

123456789 wrote:Bennett has scored three tries in six appearances according to the Pro12 website although that's an impressive return I'm pretty sure he's scored more. His pace and angle coming onto the ball is superior to all other Scottish players and that's why he scores tries. I think he will eventually shift Dunbar to twelve where I think he is more effective anyway and it will provide an international challenge for Scott.
Next six nations I could see us with a backline of:

9. Kennedy
10. Weir
11. Visser
12. Scott
13. Bennett
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

20. Laidlaw
21. Dunbar
23. Lamont

That looks quite dynamic to me, Laidlaw is too slow for the other players Scotland have - if we had strong, powerful runners we have players like Hogg, Visser and Maitland who could be incredibly good with fast ball, add Bennett to that and combine Weir's kicking and Scott's playmaking we'd have a very large attacking threat. Kennedy is much quicker and would help to develop for the future, that backline is very young and has a core of Glasgow players with Visser who could fill the VDM role and Kennedy who could fill the Matawalu role (obviously it's very difficult but at least his passing is already better).

Our pack should be very competitive, stats show Grant and Murray make a lot of tackles and at his best Ford is very destructive. Gray is one of the best second rows in the world but I think Hamilton and Kellock come under the too slow category and Gilchrist is very passive, playing against him must be the equivalent of coming home to a labrador. Our back row could be Brown, Rennie and Beattie with Denton, MacInally, Wilson, Barclay, Fusaro, Strockosch and Harley providing cover. If only Hines had never retired Bennett, Hogg, Visser and Maitland would have been superb coming onto his offloads.

I really disagree with the Laidlaw is too slow stuff. He's been playing to a plan with both Scotland and Edinburgh this season past to kick for position. Much as the forwards were playing to a don't commit to the breakdown plan in the 6N (thanks Dean). We saw Greg able to play to a faster game on Saturday and he played it well, we looked significantly worse when Pyrgos was forced to come on at 9. So for me our backline starts as
Laidlaw
? Weir, Heathcote
Scott Dunbar
Visser Maitland Hogg

Job done.

by poddy89 Tue 18 Jun 2013, 10:13 am

i just dont think visser cuts it at international,

i think he must go and get back on form for edinburgh as he has had a pretty bad end to the season, also must work on positioning and defence, back 3 need to be able to defend and just now he is a liability, other players wont trust him and try and cover more which only makes it worse and in close games like alot of ours seem to be i wouldnt want him there just now

i would prefer to see seymor or taylor step up may be others im missing

by Manky-Flanker Tue 18 Jun 2013, 10:23 am

justified sinner wrote:
I really disagree with the Laidlaw is too slow stuff. He's been playing to a plan with both Scotland and Edinburgh this season past to kick for position. Much as the forwards were playing to a don't commit to the breakdown plan in the 6N (thanks Dean). We saw Greg able to play to a faster game on Saturday and he played it well

While Laidlaw played well last week, he has been guilty of slow distribution in the past and that can't be fully explained away by a kicking gameplan imposed on the team. Sometimes a scrum-half simply has to make use of quick ball and get it into the hands of the 1st receiver to make a decision. I think on too many occasions Laidlaw feels he has to be the decision maker, meaning he stops and looks over both shoulders, points and shouts instructions to pods of forwards and generally slows things down.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 18 Jun 2013, 10:31 am

Agree with MF on this. Sometimes he just doesn't pass well enough, and no gameplan revolves around slow and inaccurate distribution. I can accept that some of his box kicking is possibly to order, but no-one is telling him to pass slowly and behind the fly half. I personally think the shift to 10 rendered his 9 skills slightly rusty, and he should now settle at 9 for good. His performance against South Africa was much better at 9.

As for Visser "not cutting it at international level", I disagree. It's true that he's off form, but on form he's a top class finisher and a real attacking weapon that we must use. I don't think his positioning is too bad, and can be easily improved. His biggest flaw is his tackling. Frankly he's a bit of a Cat. Not sure you can cure that. But when he's on form, his strengths far outweigh his weaknesses. Just look at some of the tries he's scored for Edinburgh over the years. There are some seriously top class finishes amongst that lot, and he is seriously quick when he gets into his stride. I was as disappointed as anyone when he kept chickening out of tackles against Samoa, but let's not discard him or write him off. With a kick up the back side (which Scott Johnson has duly delivered by dropping him) he'll hopefully pull his finger out and get more involved.

I like Tommy Seymour, and he deserves to hold his place. But when Visser is on form, Seymour isn't in the same class.

by **LondonTiger** Tue 18 Jun 2013, 12:30 pm

Can we put the original question to bed now?

He is a very good full back, with huge potential. Perhaps not a Stand Off though.

by R!skysports Tue 18 Jun 2013, 12:33 pm

LT - not sure this game can tell us anything. players saying hi 5 mins before a match and coming off a beach / pub / kindergarden does not generally provide the best basis for showing skills

Still something the ponder in the long term

by **RDW** Tue 18 Jun 2013, 12:40 pm

This game was almost the complete opposite form the last - good opposition, poor Lions backline and no platform from the forwards. I don't think Sexton would have done much better, although he probably will have kicked his goals.

Let's just hope it's not completely destroyed his confidence. Gatland has got to take all of the blame for this farce.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 18 Jun 2013, 2:39 pm

So Hogg plays well in a completely one-sided game and suddenly it's a good idea to move one of our best players out of postion, and yet when under pressure against quality opposition he folds, somehow that doesn't count??

This game tells us far more about Hogg's credentials as a fly half than the game against the Combined Farmers Union XV. We were all surprised when Gatland suggested that Hogg was fly half cover before the tour, and we were right to be sceptical. This is what happens when you put a guy at 10 against quality opposition where the player has NEVER before played 10 in his professional career.

Moving Hogg to 10 is daft. Completely daft. The sooner this nonsense is shelved the better. I think Gatland has done us (not the Lions) a favour by exposing Hogg against the Brumbies. Hopefully Toonie will stick with Jackson, Weir, Horne and Russell next season, and leave Hogg to develop as a top class 15, which he's well on the way to becoming.

From a Lions perspective Hogg should have started this game at 15, with Farrell at 10. Or alternatively Gatland should have taken proper cover at 10. We all said it when the squad was announced, and only the most ardent of leek smugglers defended him. This defeat could and should have been avoided. Still, onto the small matter of the 1st Test....

by **RDW** Tue 18 Jun 2013, 2:43 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:So Hogg plays well in a completely one-sided game and suddenly it's a good idea to move one of our best players out of postion, and yet when under pressure against quality opposition he folds, somehow that doesn't count??

I'm not saying disregard that performance, more that I don't think you can base Hogg's ability to play 10 on that game alone any more than you could base it on the combine country game.

As I sad even the best 10s in the world would have struggled in that Lions team.

Although I am coming round to the keep him at 15 camp.

Saying that ideally he will play at 10 against the Rebels and have a storming game, regaining his confidence and leaving the tour with a positive impression!

by funnyExiledScot Tue 18 Jun 2013, 3:04 pm

Ideally he'll play 15 against the Rebels, have a stormer, and then everyone can remember that Hogg is actually rather good at 15, and it was his form at 15 that got him on the Lions tour in the first place.

As for his confidence and leaving the tour with a positive impression, I personally don't think this silly 10 experiment will affect either in his mind. He's a fullback and he knows it. He's been asked to play out of position in one of the most difficult specialist positions on a rugby pitch. It's a seriously tall order, and a completely unneccesary ask from Gatland. Doing so against an amateur XV was one thing, but clearly doing so in a proper match against proper opposition, under pressure, is another. Anyone who genuinely thought Hogg was going to be able to exert control on that game with that makeshift backline is smoking something of serious strength.

Quite how Gatland thought Hogg at 10 was a better idea than Hook or Madigan I'll never know. At the start of the tour Hogg had a very decent shot at the 15 jersey. It's annoying from his perspective and for the Lions than they've not used him properly.

Imagine the Irish uproar had Gatland stuck BOD at 10!

by **RDW** Tue 18 Jun 2013, 3:15 pm

Can't see him starting at XV - pretty sure they'll want to give Kearny gametime.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 18 Jun 2013, 3:23 pm

It's an odd situation. If Gatland is so keen to given Kearney gametime, why take Hogg at all? They should have sent Kearney home earlier and called up a proper fly half, leaving Hogg to make his case at 15, and testing Halfpenny at 14, thus providing additional cover for the wing.

I don't think the Lions resources have been particularly well deployed on this tour, and the squad is in a bit of a mess at the moment. Not all Gatland's fault, you can't control the injuries, but the depth of the squad in certain position always looked wrong.

by EST Tue 18 Jun 2013, 4:49 pm

I really feel for Hogg, he has been hung out to dry by Gatland and his obscure selections. He must have planned for Hogg to start these two games, therefore excluding him from any chance of making the test side. Not to take a third fly half, or at least a utility back with experience at 10 (Madigan, Hook) was crazy; the injuries have made things worse, but the original squad balance was all wrong.

He did play poorly, but I would neither use this game or the combine counties game as evidence of his ability to play at 10 - that should be judged, if at all, after a number of professional games.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 18 Jun 2013, 5:03 pm

....or not judged at all, and just leave Hogg to develop at 15.

Why not try Bennett at 10 instead, or Matawalu, or Maitland? All have good handling skills and pace.

I hated the way Hogg was shipped to 13 during the season, and I equally hate the idea of messing him around at 10.

We have so few top international class players in Scotland. Why do we persist with messing them about in different positions??

by offload Tue 18 Jun 2013, 5:36 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:We have so few top international class players in Scotland. Why do we persist with messing them about in different positions??

Very much agree. Hogg is a quality 15, let him develop there.

by 123456789 Tue 18 Jun 2013, 5:44 pm

I think Heathcote showed a lot of potential against Samoa, the timing of his pass was superior to Jacksons and arguably Weir's, also Weir is already a very good player with a superb kicking game, I'd say leave Hogg where he is.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 18 Jun 2013, 5:58 pm

Hooray!! Finally some sense on these boards!!

Yahoo

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Tue 18 Jun 2013, 6:07 pm

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:In a word, no.

There is plenty of potential at 10 already which just needs to be nurtured and brought on carefully - Weir and Heathcote are there or thereabouts already, with Tommy Allan and Finn Russell the next pair for further examination and encouragement.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Tue 18 Jun 2013, 6:08 pm

There, I may have heralded this two pages ago

by funnyExiledScot Tue 18 Jun 2013, 6:09 pm

You are indeed a prophet Mr ASBO!

notworthy

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Tue 18 Jun 2013, 6:20 pm

Quite. Now have I mentioned my other prophecy?!

by Majestic83 Tue 18 Jun 2013, 6:26 pm

Definitely leave Hogg where he is, already a very good international 15 and has the potential to develop into a world class 15. Will form a very exciting back 3 for a good few years to come alongside maitland and Visser/Seymour!

We have 2 or 3 young 10s who can develop into very good international 10s. Let them get game time at 10 and let them develop properly, Heathcote is top of the list for me backed up by Weir. For once hopefully the coaches will see sense and let the team develop and stay settled instead of chopping and changing.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Tue 18 Jun 2013, 11:58 pm

fES, hope you were watching the Messiah's individual effort tonite? Whistle

by **Rugby Fan** Wed 19 Jun 2013, 1:11 am

EST wrote:I really feel for Hogg, he has been hung out to dry by Gatland and his obscure selections. He must have planned for Hogg to start these two games, therefore excluding him from any chance of making the test side.

I don't think he did. It's more likely he planned to alternate Farrell and Sexton, using Hogg only as late match back-up. As the reality of the tour hit, he wanted to protcect Sexton, and realized he could only do this properly by also protecting Farrell, which meant using Hogg more than expected.

by EST Wed 19 Jun 2013, 1:24 am

Certainly a possibility, Rugby Fan - but having Sexton and Farrell play every game was never going to work, that he was forced to play Hogg at 10 at all was a situation of his own making - and an unfair one on Hogg I feel. Why he didn't take a 10/12 like Madigan or Hook I don't know.

by funnyExiledScot Wed 19 Jun 2013, 9:47 am

ASBO - I only have time to watch pro rugby. Are the Scotland U12s playing New Zealand, South Africa or anyone decent, or is it a 15th place play-off or something meaningless against a kiddie also ran side like Romania or the USA?

Did you see Matt Scott and Alex Dunbar play South Africa on Saturday? Good centres those guys.....

Whistle

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Wed 19 Jun 2013, 9:49 am

It was a sand-pit and ball-pit playtime special - boy, did you miss out!

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Wed 19 Jun 2013, 9:50 am

And btw, Dunbar is no more an intl OC than I am! Those two will be fighting for the 12 jersey soon enough, we both know it Wink

by funnyExiledScot Wed 19 Jun 2013, 9:59 am

Well when it comes to bucket and spade time, we can all agree that Bennett has no competition. He must be setting records for the numbers of appearances in schoolboy rugby competitions!

Based on Saturday's performance the tussle between Scott and Dunbar for the 12 jersey will be pretty brief. I thought Scott was really excellent.

Scott and Bennett as a combination could be in place by the next World Cup and on paper works well, but the time has come now for Bennett to start the season as first choice 13 for Glasgow. If he can't nail down the jersey this season in the big games then it'll be safe to say that there's been smoke without fire. If he can fullfil his promise (and a smidge of the hype you've bestowed upon him!), then he could be the key to unlocking our newly established and pretty handy back three.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Wed 19 Jun 2013, 10:51 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:Well when it comes to bucket and spade time, we can all agree that Bennett has no competition. He must be setting records for the numbers of appearances in schoolboy rugby competitions!

Based on Saturday's performance the tussle between Scott and Dunbar for the 12 jersey will be pretty brief. I thought Scott was really excellent.

Scott and Bennett as a combination could be in place by the next World Cup and on paper works well, but the time has come now for Bennett to start the season as first choice 13 for Glasgow. If he can't nail down the jersey this season in the big games then it'll be safe to say that there's been smoke without fire. If he can fullfil his promise (and a smidge of the hype you've bestowed upon him!), then he could be the key to unlocking our newly established and pretty handy back three.

He will be, don't worry angel

by tigertattie Wed 19 Jun 2013, 11:22 am

Veron has more potential at 13 that Bennett

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Wed 19 Jun 2013, 11:22 am

tigertattie wrote:Veron has more potential at 13 that Bennett

Juan Sebastian?

by funnyExiledScot Wed 19 Jun 2013, 11:26 am

The money wasted on Veron would be enough to fund the SRU (including Ben Atiga's Greggs bill) for a decade!

Laugh

by maestegmafia Wed 19 Jun 2013, 1:14 pm

I think Hogg has played well in both games at flyhalf. He is not an international goal kicker of exceptional talent but that is not the remit of a flyhalf.

Far more important to play the game well and he has done that twice. Considering the ball he was getting he managed very well.

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