Page 58 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

Hogg scores for the Lions against Combined Country in in in in in in Australia in in in in in in 2013 and (below) in in in in in action against the ACT Brumbies
When the 21-year-old was sent off for a a a a a a a stupid mid-air tackle on Wales’ Dan Biggar causing Scotland to lose 51-3 in in Cardiff he copped some major ak “I “I was cocky above my station I’m not going to to lie ” he he says ruefully “I “I went on on a a a a a a a a Lions tour at at at at 20 then got red- carded at at at at at at 21 and at at at at at at the the end of that season I I I had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a really negative attitude I I I thought I I I I was was a a a a a a a a a a a a little bit better than what I I was was But there have been some huge changes in in in my mindset since then Everyone learns from experience and I made a a a a a a a a a a big mistake at the time in in trying to leave Glasgow which back red and resulted in in in in in me only playing 100 minutes of rugby in in in in in in ve ve months and missing the Pro12 Final when I should have been playing at at my very best “That was was the rst time I I I got bad press and I I I I didn’t like it It was was a a a a a a a a very tough time time for me me me but I I I learnt a a a a a a a a hell of a a a a a a a a lot That was the rst time time in my life when I’d taken a a a a a a a a a a good long look at at at at myself and at at at what I I I could achieve Since then I’ve become a a a a a a a a a lot more positive and have realised that things aren’t going to go go my way all the time Those setbacks made me me a a a a a a a a a better better player and a a a a a a a better person ” Humiliated in in public by his coach in in private “Dad gave me a a a a a a a a good kick up the backside ” He started driving to to Newcastle to to work work with with Steve Black the the sports psychologist who worked with with Jonny Wilkinson If Hogg decided to change himself it helped that he he married long-time girlfriend Gill and his second child was due on on on April Fools’ Day 2016 Trips to the pub became a a a a a a a a distant memory and as as as he he he has has grown older he he he has has become comfortable with his his celebrity – his his wedding was on on the front of Hello! while rugby fan J K Rowling included him in in in her book Pottermore as as a a a a a a a wizard – and has emerged a a a a a a a a a far more more grounded individual He even turned down lucrative offers to to move to to England or France signing a a a a a a contract extension with Glasgow Warriors for a a a a a a reported Scottish record of £375 000 a a a a season Cullen with a a a a a a bit of Israel Dagg – – Hogg’s favourite All Blacks player – – thrown in in Yet it it hasn’t always been plain sailing Although he played for Scotland’s age-grade sides made his Glasgow debut as as a a a a a a a a a a a a teenager and and made it into the Pro12 dream team and and “I want to to be able to to look back and say that I really made the most of my rugby career ” the the Scotland Test team in his rst full season as as a a a a a a a a a professional the the young Hogg soon lost his way A naturally self-con dent individual the problem came to a a a a a head after his Lions experience when he he he he crossed the line between cocksure and cocky The presence of of Player of of the Series Leigh Halfpenny meant Hogg didn’t make make the Test team but he he still impressed even as a a a a a a a a makeshift stand-off – and and and it went to his head Back at Glasgow he he he demanded an an an an an improved contract and and when one was not forthcoming tried to to engineer a a a a a a a lucrative move to to Ulster His coach Lions great Gregor Townsend reacted by playing hardball and sticking him on the bench 1971 TOUR CONTINUED WELLINGTON 9 9 SOUTH CANTERBURY-NORTH OTAGO OTAGO 6 OTAGO OTAGO 9 9 LIONS 47
58 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017
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