Last May on the Scotstoun pitch in Glasgow former Scotland back, Chris Paterson turned to investigate the screaming noise coming from the far end of the stadium. It was Stuart Hogg. The player, who Paterson had been taking for kicking drills, had picked up his phone and seen his name among the Lions squad.
Unashamedly Hogg says that he “screamed like a little girl”. The 20-year-old was the youngest player named on the squad and as tradition determined he carried the team mascot for the duration of the tour as they conquered Oz.
Rob Howley, the Lions backs coach, said that it was Hogg’s range of skills that secured him the place. Hogg had played outside centre for Glasgow and Howley was certain he could play at outhalf for the Lions. For tomorrow’s game he is at fullback.
"He has a huge X-Factor about him," said Howley last spring. "He's their most dangerous player without a doubt," said Rob Kearney this week. "He does have the X-Factor and he's a guy they look to bring into the game a huge amount."
Natural grace
Everyone loves a footballer and the sense of effortless ability; the combination of natural grace with derring-do and the fearless instinct that thrives on risk because an indefinable quality of being a footballer is that it wilfully resides outside the box. Hogg is just that.
Conor Murray echoes Howley and Kearney in their observations. “He certainly does have a little bit of an X-Factor,” says the Ireland scrumhalf. “Particularly on counter attack he’s not afraid to run it back, a real evasive type player. Loads of gas. Same as [Sean] Maitland. Two really, really quick players who are not afraid to have a go.”
That's high praise for a 21-year-old, whose family claim distant blood ties with George Best. The Belfast genius is, it appears is distantly related, information that arrived from Best's side of the family, not Hogg's.
“It has opened up a door on my dad’s side. My dad’s always been wanting to find out his family history because his parents died relatively young,” said Hogg last year.
“It’s a small world . . . because of me playing international rugby, a thing like this has opened up. It’s quite scary when you hear all the stories they’ve been telling me. One of George Best’s relatives is a lady who looks pretty much like my dad. It’s a shame for her.”
He gained his first cap in 2012 under Andy Robinson, coming on against Wales. He was duly named in the starting team to face France, scoring his first try in the eighth minute.
Given his status in the game, he comes to Dublin this weekend known as a creative force but also a little under the radar. An injury to the scaphoid bone in his wrist that required surgery kept him out of Scotland's Autumn series. A loud chorus of approval accompanied his return to a team that's audaciously building for next year's World Cup with Vern Cotter joining when his contract with Clermont ends in May.
Running challenges
Tomorrow Hogg, along with Sean Maitland, will provide Ireland's defence with running challenges. But forewarned is forearmed. Nobody on Joe Schmidt's team is unaware of the threat.
“You can see that their game plan is built a little bit about getting him on the ball,” adds Kearney. “Around third, fourth phases they will be looking to exploit some of our front five players. These are all the sort of things that we have analysed and will hopefully be aware to on the day.
“He is a quality player,” says the Ireland fullback. “I got to see a little bit of him during the summer. He played a fair bit for the Lions, obviously out of position in that Brumbies game. But when he did go into 10 you could see he did have the attributes of a top class, skilful rugby player.
“He’s probably their biggest threat. We wouldn’t want to kick poorly to him and you can’t afford to give him time and space because he’s rapid and has good footwork.”
Les Kiss, Ireland’s backs coach, also considered what Ireland faced and familiar names came up. Maitland, the injured flier Tim Visser and vintage winger Sean Lamont. Hogg again was at the heart of it.
“Their backrow open up those opportunities for them. We know they’re just aggressive and relentless in that area, and that type of spoiling game that they do is the challenge you have to get around so you can handle the threats out wide,” said Kiss.
“Hogg being back is a big plus for them. He’s essential to the whole mix of their game because they do work the same way but he can break the shape of the game and come back and catch your tight forwards unawares. He’s very, very good at that.”
That sounds a big noise. For a 21-year-old with just 15 caps.
