Hogg hails famous win for the Scots

By Mark Stevens
8/2/21

Stuart Hogg insists Scotland’s increasing self-belief fuelled their first away win at England since 1983.

The Exeter Chiefs full-back put in a Guinness Six Nations Player of the Match performance as Gregor Townsend’s side regained the Calcutta Cup on the 150th anniversary of the rivals’ first meeting.

Hogg, alongside club-mate Jonny Gray, claimed the bragging rights against Chiefs colleagues Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill, Henry Slade and Harry Williams in their opening fixture of this season's tournament.

Duhan van der Merwe’s first-half try and two Finn Russell penalties set up the victory, while Owen Farrell scored two penalties for the hosts.

Scotland have now won four successive Guinness Six Nations matches, stretching back to last season and Hogg hailed an outstanding display.

“It is amazing for us. We can’t repeat what has happened in the past, that’s gone. We are in control of what is happening in the future,” he said. “We have said that we firmly believe in each other from the very beginning. To a man we were outstanding. Credit to England, they brought it to us but we stood up defensively and took our opportunities when they were on offer in attack as well.

“We got excited during the week, we knew we could come in here and put in a performance. If we got everything right, we knew we would have every opportunity of winning.

“We stood firm defensively and looked after the ball in attack. We went through multiple phases and caused England problems, that is what we are about. We are not going to get ahead of ourselves. We will enjoy this one, no doubt, but then it is on to Wales next week.”