Hogg to lead Scotland against Ireland
By Mark Stevens
30/1/20
Exeter Chiefs star Stuart Hogg will lead Scotland into battle ahead of their opening Guinness Six Nations fixture against Ireland on Saturday.
Handed the captaincy for the tournament by head coach Gregor Townsend, the 27-year-old will line-up at full-back in a Scotland side that shows ten changes from that which last lined up against Japan at the Rugby World Cup.
One of those changes comes at fly-half where Glasgow playmaker Adam Hastings has been given the job of replacing Finn Russell.
Russell was told he would not be involved at the Aviva Stadium after being disciplined for breaching team rules last week after he was involved in a late-night drinking session at the Dark Blues’ team hotel.
It remains to be seen if the Racing 92 star will feature at all during this year’s championships, but Hastings will get his chance to prove he can plot a route to success after being handed the number 10 jersey for the Dublin opener.
Alongside Hogg, Sam Johnson, James Ritchie, Fraser Brown and Jonny Gray - who will join the Chiefs next season - are the only survivors from the team that lost to Japan 28-21 in October.
Bristol Bears No.8 Nick Haining will win his first cap against Andy Farrell’s team, while Edinburgh prop Rory Sutherland will make his first international appearance in three-and-a-half years. Back-rower Hamish Watson and scrum-half Ali Price – both injured in the Scots’ opening World Cup clash with Irish back in September – make their return to Townsend’s team after returning to fitness, while there is also a comeback for Huw Jones at centre after he missed the cut for the tournament in Japan.
Ireland swept Townsend’s team aside 27-3 in Yokohama and the coach is looking for a major improvement this weekend.
Townsend, who has spent the week in Spain preparing his team for their first match of this year’s competition, said: “We have managed to cover a lot of work in the two weeks we have been together and we’ve been impressed with how our players have taken on information and bonded as a team.
“Our goal is always to play to our potential. The challenge to do this starts on Saturday against Ireland. Playing to our potential starts with our collective mindset. That means being alert, focused and resilient right from the beginning, to be ready for the physical battle that lies ahead and able to stay in the fight throughout the 80 minutes.”
He added: “We must be a relentless collective on the pitch and a nightmare for the Irish to deal with while having the ability and awareness to impose our game at that intensity.
“As coaches, we put frameworks together and create an environment for them to thrive and reach their potential but ultimately it’s the players who go out and deliver. We’re looking forward to seeing them play in Dublin.”
Scotland team to play Ireland in Dublin – Saturday, 1 February (kick-off 4.45pm):
15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, capt) – 72 caps
14. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 44 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 23 caps
12. Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps
11. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) – 17 caps
10. Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) – 16 caps
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps
1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh) – 3 caps
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 46 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 25 caps
4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – 8 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 55 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh) – 14 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh) – 28 caps
8. Nick Haining (Edinburgh) – uncapped
Replacements:
16. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh) – 33 caps
17. Allan Dell (London Irish) – 28 caps
18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh) – 24 caps
19. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) – 22 caps
20. Cornell du Preez (Worcester Warriors) – 6 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 10 caps
22. Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints) – 3 caps
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester) – 14 caps