Hogg out to deliver on Euro stage

By Mark Stevens
24/9/20

Stuart Hogg insists it’s games like that of this weekend, when the Exeter Chiefs host Toulouse in the last four of the Heineken Champions Cup, are what rugby dreams are made of.

Never before have the Chiefs advanced to this stage of Europe’s top club competition, but Scottish captain Hogg will be looking to lead from the front against their visitors from across the English Channel.

Full-back Hogg was again at the forefront in last weekend’s 35-18 victory over Northampton Saints - and much will be expected again from the 28-year-old in a game which Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, has described as his side’s ‘biggest test’ of the season so far.

“It should be an absolute cracker,” said Hogg. “I’ve watched a fair bit of Toulouse over the last week and they are a cracking side. For us, though, it’s a special moment and we have to enjoy it.

“Fair play to Northampton, they took it to us in the quarter-finals, but our defence held firm, we made them work hard, and we took our chances when they came along.”

Now, the Chiefs must look to improve on that triumph against a Toulouse outfit, who themselves are chasing a record-breaking fifth European crown.

“We know it’s going to be a huge test for us,” added Hogg. “That said, the way we’ve come back and played since restart, the mood around the place, and the genuine desire and feel amongst the boys that we can do something special, it’s all there for us this season.

“Personally, it’s brilliant to play for this club and as a player, you dream off being at this stage in competitions like this. We’re here now and we’re massively excited because it’s a huge moment for everyone connected to the club.That said, we’re not finished and we’ll be doing everything we can at the weekend to get the job done and get into that final.”

Victory over the Saints, coupled with Leinster’s defeat at home to Saracens, mean the Chiefs are now top seeds in the competition - and with that comes home advantage this weekend.

“Being here at Sandy Park is huge for us,” continued Hogg. “We love being here, even in this new norm of not having fans about the place. Obviously, we miss hugely the supporters not being here on a match-day, but hopefully we can give them something cheer about again at the weekend.”

Hogg is expected to line-up in a Chiefs squad which Baxter confirmed has no fresh injury concerns, but is buoyed by the return to training of the likes of Stu Townsend, Olly Woodburn and Alex Cuthbert.

“We’re looking very good,” said Baxter. “Nobody who played in the quarter-final is unavailable this weekend, which is fantastic. Olly Woodburn is getting closer to being available as are Alex Cuthbert and Stu Townsend.

“It is an improving picture if anything, not a worsening picture. We talked straight after the game against Northampton about the importance of making sure everyone was ready to be in Tuesday and ready to go.

“So that was about the importance of some individual responsibility for recovering on Sunday night and Monday and coming in for physio and rehab if they need to, to make sure we could have a full day of training on Tuesday and that happened exceptionally well.

"We had every player training doing full sessions and we had everyone who has been selected in today [Wednesday] doing full training so they have got that first part of it right.”