STUART HOGG is one of seven players in Scotland’s 23-man match-day squad for today’s Six Nations clash against Italy at Murrayfield still waiting to find out if they will be released by their English club to play in next Friday’s final match of the championship against France in Paris (which has been re-arranged to a time outside World Rugby designated international window following a Covid our break in the French camp last month). 

However, the Exeter Chiefs man pointed out yesterday that he has had more than enough going on to be keep his mind occupied this week without concerning himself with something which is entirely outside of his control at the moment. The 28-year-old has been shifted forward from full-back to take over at stand-off against the Azzurri, which he admits has taken him out of his comfort zone, but he is determined to prove that he is equal to the challenge, and to repay the faith that head coach Gregor Townsend has shown in him. 

It is a position he has only played on a handful of occasions since he was 15, with the last time he started a game in the No10 jersey being for Glasgow Warriors against Benetton back in December 2016. 

“I enjoy being out my comfort zone, I enjoy being challenged, and I enjoy people writing me off by saying that this could go very, very wrong,” he said. “I’m not going out there to prove anything to anybody – I’m going to go out there to do my basics well and make sure I’m driving the team forward.  And I have a huge amount of confidence about that because Gregor and the coaching staff have handed me the reins – and if I wasn’t capable of doing the job then they wouldn’t have given me it. 

“I’m really nervous about the game but to get the best out of people you need to put them in uncomfortable positions, so this is the perfect scenario for me,” he added. “I’m not going to go into the game with as much as confidence as I would have if I was at 15 – but I’m excited about the challenge and hopefully I’ll bring the best out myself and the team.” 

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Hogg has taken plenty advice this week from Finn Russell – Scotland’s regular stand-off who has a concussion – but knows that he has to concentrate on playing to his own strengths. “I won’t say I’m anything like Finn because nobody in the world of rugby is,” he smiled. “We have a game-plan which will get everyone involved, and I like to think that over the past couple of years I have improved at distributing to bring others into the game. I can’t see why that will change in any way. 

“I just have to make sure that I don't try to chase things too early and don't try to score off every phase.  

“I’m excited for it. It gets me involved in the game more. I might not have the time and space I’m used to, but it’s a great challenge.” 

Hogg’s half-back partner is Scott Steele, the 27-year-old Harlequins scrum-half who has been capped three times previously but never started an international match. The Scotland captain acknowledges that there will be an element of learning on the hoof, but has been encouraged by how things have clicked so far. 

“Scottie and I have driven the team around well in training this week,” he said. “The good thing for us is that not everything had gone perfectly, but it’ll keep us switched on. We’ve talked a lot in the last few weeks about living in the moment, and every single moment we have to be switched on until the ball’s dead.  

“We have a hugely exciting back line and it’s going to mean opportunities for us if we get good front foot ball from the forwards and can distribute well form 9 and 10, to get those boys in the game. We all want to see Huw Jones, Sean Maitland, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe in open space with the ball, so that’s the target.” 

Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing between the tournament organisers and Premier Rugby Limited [the umbrella group which represents England’s top clubs] about an agreement for player release next week, and some sort of middle ground appears to have been established with Worcester Warriors stating last night that they along with other Premiership clubs will release their Scotland players “provided it is on the same financial teams as English players are released to RFU”.  

“For me, we just have to let the powers that be make the decisions,” said Hogg. “All I’m concentrating on is the next 24 hours and playing against the Italians. I can’t look too far ahead. It’s a decision that’s out-with my hands, so therefore it’s pointless for me to speak about it.”