It assured not just his selection in the 2021 Lions squad, but saw the Scottish captain installed as favourite to be the starting Test full-back in South Africa. But three months is a long time in elite sport and Hogg’s ambitions have been knocked sideways following Exeter boss Rob Baxter’s decision to replace him by picking Jack Nowell as the starting 15 for the Premiership semi-final and final.
Hogg’s dreams of glory on his third Lions tour were fuelled by his unfulfilled ambitions of making the Test team on his first two tours, to Australia in 2013, and New Zealand in 2017. After heading Down Under as the youngest player in the 2013 squad, at 20, he made five impressive appearances, but could not oust Leigh Halfpenny – who finished as player of the series – at full-back.
In 2017, having gone to New Zealand after winning two back-to-back Six Nations player of the championship awards, Hogg’s hopes of securing the No.15 shirt against the All Blacks were dashed when he was forced to return home after sustaining a fractured cheekbone in a collision with Conor Murray in the second game.
This time he faces a serious challenge before he even gets on the plane following Baxter’s decision to pick Nowell ahead of him for Exeter’s two biggest games of the season.
Esta historia es de la edición June 27, 2021 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 27, 2021 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Campese: Schmidt is wrong man for Aussies
DAVID Campese delivered a blunt message regarding Joe Schmidt’s position as Australia’s head coach, claiming the Kiwi isn’t right for the role because he doesn’t understand the Wallabies’ culture and history.
How London Welsh are working way back to top
William Gupwell goes down to south-west London to find a club out to rediscover itself
Sorry, Geoff, but let's not de-power scrums
EVERY week I can’t wait for Sunday to come around so that I can read The Rugby Paper and see what is really happening in our game.
Howdy! England pair saddle up to spread the word
JESS Breach and Ellie Kildunne have launched their new podcast Rugby Rodeo with one ambition in mind – to grow the profile of the women’s game.
I put in three good shots on Jonah Lomu
BACK in the day, when we first started in Leagues in 1987, we began in North East 2.
Dupont & Co need to take on the very best
I THINK we established long ago that my admiration of Antoine Dupont knows no bounds, he is the best rugby player I have ever reported on or watched in the flesh, pipping Gareth Edwards by a short head, but there is no question that there is a gaping huge hole in his CV which many cite against him when the all-time lists are compiled and debated.
Tuipulotu's power is too much for Cardiff
SCOTLAND star Sione Tuipulotu has been hailed as one of the best three 12s in the world following his player of the match display in this 13-try rollercoaster at the Arms Park.
Following in father's footsteps ... but for how long?
CAST your minds back, those of you who are sufficiently long in the tooth, to Melbourne in late October 2003.
Borthwick should call up these young props
IT WAS surprising that neither of England’s U20 world champion props, Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale) or Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester), were in the England training squad going to Portugal ahead of the autumn series.
Lively Reed lights the spark to ignite Sharks
AARON Reed proved to be Sale’s pivotal weapon, and the perfect foil in both attack and defence to ensure Sharks came out on the right side of a nine-try nailbiter on Friday.