Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg ‘chuffed to bits’ to get back to winning ways in Six Nations

Stuart Hogg congratulates team-mate Duhan van der Merwe after the latter scored their side's eighth try during the Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Italy at Murrayfield today in Edinburgh (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The Hawick 28-year-old captained the Scots to a record 52-10 win over Italy at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium today, March 20, after back-to-back defeats against Wales and Ireland.

After going behind to visiting captain Luca Bigi’s fifth-minute try, Scotland bounced back, running in eight tries.

Hooker David Cherry and winger Duhan van der Merwe both got two, with Huw Jones, Scott Steele, Sam Johnson and Darcy Graham, another ex-Hawick player, also crossing the line for Scotland.

Gregor Townsend, head coach of Scotland, talks to Stuart Hogg on the pitch prior to the Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Italy at Murrayfield on March 20, 2021, in Edinburgh (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

A runner’s-up finish is now possible for ex-Gala star Gregor Townsend’s side as they head to Paris to face France next Friday, March 26.

“All week, we talked about having a big reaction and showed a performance that represented us,” said Hogg after slotting home six of his eight kicks.

“At times, we lacked that clinical edge and we didn’t score as many as we’d like to.

“The boys put in a hell of a performance and I’m chuffed to bits with the result.

“We’ve had a huge amount of confidence from the very beginning of the Six Nations, but those little things have killed us.

“We’ve been in every single game. In the last couple of games, we have scored 24 points and come away with defeats.

“Today that was more like us. We threw the ball around and had some fun.

“Hopefully, that gives us a big boost ahead of next week.”

Hogg played further forward than usual for 54 minutes of the game, moving from full-back to fly-half in the absence of the injured Finn Russell.

“I did enjoy it. I had lots of ball touches, but I think I’ll leave that for Finn and the rest of the boys from now on,” said the Exeter Chiefs player.