High ball doubt may cost Hogg Lions slot

STUART Hogg’s high points this season in leading Scotland to away victories over France and England in the Six Nations, as well as his two blistering tries against Wales, reaffirmed him as one of the great attacking talents.

- NICK CAIN

It assured not just his selection in the 2021 Lions squad, but saw the Scottish captain installed as favourite to be the starting Test full-back in South Africa. But three months is a long time in elite sport and Hogg’s ambitions have been knocked sideways following Exeter boss Rob Baxter’s decision to replace him by picking Jack Nowell as the starting 15 for the Premiership semi-final and final.

Hogg’s dreams of glory on his third Lions tour were fuelled by his unfulfilled ambitions of making the Test team on his first two tours, to Australia in 2013, and New Zealand in 2017. After heading Down Under as the youngest player in the 2013 squad, at 20, he made five impressive appearances, but could not oust Leigh Halfpenny – who finished as player of the series – at full-back.

In 2017, having gone to New Zealand after winning two back-to-back Six Nations player of the championship awards, Hogg’s hopes of securing the No.15 shirt against the All Blacks were dashed when he was forced to return home after sustaining a fractured cheekbone in a collision with Conor Murray in the second game.

This time he faces a serious challenge before he even gets on the plane following Baxter’s decision to pick Nowell ahead of him for Exeter’s two biggest games of the season.