Lions 2013: Stuart Hogg set to start at fly-half

By Bryn PalmerBBC Sport in Brisbane

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments533

Stuart Hogg

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg will start at fly-half for the British and Irish Lions in Tuesday's match against a Combined Queensland-New South Wales Country XV.

With Jonathan Sexton and Owen Farrell both rested, the 20-year-old will start in a position he last played at school.

England prop Alex Corbisiero will be pitched straight into action after his arrival as a replacement on Saturday.

Fellow new arrival Ryan Grant will be on the bench.

Elsewhere, Jamie Roberts and Brian O'Driscoll are reunited at centre.

The duo formed a superb partnership on the last Lions tour of South Africa and get their first outing together in Australia.

Sexton is to sit out the game with a tight hamstring, while his Ireland team-mate Tommy Bowe could feature later in the tour after undergoing an operation to repair a broken bone in his hand.

Sean Maitland, a specialist wing, starts at full-back, a position where he formerly played for Canterbury Crusaders in his native New Zealand.

Fellow Scot Richie Gray is the only member of the pack who also started Saturday's 22-12 win over Queensland Reds.

The giant lock starts his third game of the tour, as do Hogg and Wales wing Alex Cuthbert.

Irish flanker Sean O'Brien gets his first outing at blind-side in a revamped back row alongside Jamie Heaslip and Justin Tipuric.

With Sexton and Farrell both given a match off after being involved in all three so far, there is no specialist fly-half cover on the bench.

Head coach Warren Gatland said either full-back Leigh Halfpenny or centre Jonathan Davies would step in should anything befall Hogg, who will also do the goalkicking.

Lions team:

Sean Maitland, Alex Cuthbert, Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, George North; Stuart Hogg, Conor Murray; Alex Corbisiero, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Ian Evans, Sean O'Brien, Justin Tipuric, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Rory Best, Ryan Grant, Matt Stevens, Alun Wyn Jones, Toby Faletau, Mike Phillips, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny.

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533 comments

  • Comment posted by U3280383, at 01:57 9 Jun 2013

    Interesting move by Gatland and I wish Stuart the best of success.
    Some posters have been very harsh on Hogg - he is on the tour on merit .i think Halfpenny is a fantastic footballer and he will be the FBI in the tests but this a great opportunity for Hoggs development and I feel in
    4 years time he will be the first choice full back for the Lions.

  • Comment posted by Owain ap Gruffudd, at 09:40 9 Jun 2013

    @111

    How do you suggest it is lack of planning? When Hogg was selected, it was partly because he can also play at 10. That was stated at the time. The decision was 2 x 10,s, and a cover/utility 10, which is Hogg. Whether you agree with that or not, I fail to see the lack of planning?

    I hope Hogg has a great game.

  • Comment posted by U13927685, at 09:37 9 Jun 2013

    why the surprise? they said he was cover for 10.
    1st two games OF and JS needed to start to be ready for the Reds.
    Now is perfect time to give Hogg the experience. He can't be worse than Farrell vs the Baabaas?
    Why start Gray? He was all over the pitch and must be feeling it.
    Watched game again - thought Hogg coped well with the horrendous pressure

  • Comment posted by Owain ap Gruffudd, at 09:09 9 Jun 2013

    @93

    I agree, part of the consideration of Hoggs selection was that he could play at 10. Having a player that can perform as a utility player is an asset to any coach, not just Lions. I am looking forward to seeing him play there. Who knows it could be quite a revelation, and may even be a plus for Scottish rugby who are weak at 10. Good luck to him, I hope it works out well for the Lions & Hogg.

  • Comment posted by Odin, at 23:19 9 Jun 2013

    I like the permutations that WG is trying out because it seems to be generating a squad atmosphere instead of the usual split when midweek and weekend teams become predictable.

    He's got a strong squad so I hope he picks the Test team on merit gained during the tour and not some pre-determined agenda, ie form counts for everything, reputations (class?) should not.

  • Comment posted by philmus, at 10:06 9 Jun 2013

    Hogg has played stand off for Glasgow including the Pro 12 semi-final.

    I'm also getting fed up with those complaining about Hogg and Maitland who don't see them play regularly. Hogg has played fine, you don't gey the chance to run in 80 metre tries every game and Maitland hardly saw the ball against the Baa Baas. As a sub against Wester Farce, he was on the field for four minutes.

  • Comment posted by j3bnl, at 09:35 9 Jun 2013

    Quite a few negative comments about Hoggs performance yesterday. He was no where near the worst performer for the Lions. The team were on the backfoot for most of the 1st half which was hardly Hoggs fault! One bad knock on 2nd half but he was hardly the only player guilty of that crime.
    @90 on yesterdays performance alone I wouldn't pick SW but it was his 1st outing and will improve.

  • Comment posted by Owain ap Gruffudd, at 09:24 9 Jun 2013

    A coach makes an innovative move, and plays someone who is a real talent, out of position at 10. ( Although he understands, and has played 10 at Hawick). And as stated Sir Ian McGeechan has done similar things previously.If it works then great, if not no harm done. Some posters just seem happy to get on the coaches' & Hoggs back, with negative posts.

  • Comment posted by U15629377, at 09:04 9 Jun 2013

    Some very personal and negative thoughts on this post. Let's focus on the squad that is out there in Aus and let's give them our full support. We can have the post mortem when the series is over but in the meantime good luck to all of our lads and lets aim for an unbeaten tour. Now that would be something to talk about !!

  • Comment posted by Owain ap Gruffudd, at 11:29 10 Jun 2013

    @463. Hugh

    Very well put,It will be fascinating to see how he goes at 10. Although he is not as much out of position as has been reported. I am sure OF will be watching closely!

    @462 The Roar

    Time to move on. JW will not be called up, having just had surgery. He will want to ensure he is fit for Toulon at the start of the season.

  • Comment posted by mcarta, at 23:33 9 Jun 2013

    Gatland is hoping Hogg has a stormer at 10, so he can leave Farrell out of the test squad. It has been on the cards since the babas match. It is a problem that there are only 2 out halves, because they both "know" they're in the test squad.There are a lot of good outside backs who are matchwinners off the bench. This will put the cat amongst the pigeons.

  • Comment posted by U15609715, at 18:07 9 Jun 2013

    Hogg is a breath of fresh air to Britsh rugby and the six nations. I wish him well Tuesday and expect to see some incredible link ups with the test centres and some breathtaking individual breaks. Won't surprise me if he has a MOM display. I think WG's attempts at keeping everyone in the frame for a test place could be the master stroke that delivers victory.

  • Comment posted by GeorgeCarlin, at 08:02 9 Jun 2013

    Maitland played dozens of games for the Crusaders at 15 - how is that a "risk"? Hogg kicks well out of hand and for goal and is a great footballer. He'll get an armchair ride with that pack.

  • Comment posted by U15486790, at 03:47 9 Jun 2013

    Look, its a mid-week test, its for trying things. Hogg will not start a test at 10. But will be needed as cover if sexton or farrell are injured so must get game time there. Makes perfect sense,

    Already think the backs for the first test are:

    phillips
    sexton
    north
    roberts
    BOD
    cuthbert
    halfpenny

    also think front row will be vunipola hibbard jones with 4-8 still up for grabs

  • Comment posted by vadersjester, at 01:24 9 Jun 2013

    His kicking was pretty good when he was playing at Glasgow towards the end of the season and he's got good hands. Hopefully he does well.

  • Comment posted by Stuart, at 00:59 9 Jun 2013

    he is the cover Fly half so i guess its worth giving him a run out there, although i suspect he will revert to full back for future games.

  • Comment posted by Paapaa, at 11:13 10 Jun 2013

    @552

    'We all know that JW is still the best FH in the NH......'

    LOL. l haven't laughed so much in log time.

    Thanks.

  • Comment posted by U15626164, at 22:50 9 Jun 2013

    To be fair Denis does himself a mis - service by only mentioning his rugby acheivents. I'll never forget him tearing down the Berlin Wall, Facing down tanks on tiananmen square, landing on the moon and inventing the internet. Top bloke and a great guy.

  • Comment posted by Murray Mint, at 20:43 9 Jun 2013

    With Hogg at fly half, the Lions could win this by a cricket score. His running game should create lots of space for Roberts, O'Driscoll, North, Cuthbert and Maitland to exploit. Gatland is no mug; he knows what he is doing.

  • Comment posted by Count Pierre Bezukhov, at 11:46 10 Jun 2013

    465.The Roar
    stats rarely lie.
    ROG has more test tries than JW, so clearly has a better running game, but its also about creating tries for team mates, wait a minute ROG has more conversions as well. Lets get ROG out there, he likes playing against the waratahs.

    JW was a great player, 10 years ago. but he's now an "in the pocket" kicker, Lions must not kick good ball away to wallabies.

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