IT’S ONE OF the quirkier traditions around the grand ceremony of the Lions.
The youngest man on tour is mercilessly treated as such and handed a stuffed toy Lion. This time around it is Stuart Hogg’s duty to ensure nothing unfortunate should happen to ‘BIL’ – with his team-mates out to sabotage.
“Really serious.” He says with a grin when asked about how vigorous his efforts are.
“It’s my baby, you could say, for the tour. I’ve got to take it to training and make sure it goes to all the events and stuff. Every time I take it to a training session it’s, eh… gone MIA.”
When speaking to TheScore.ie in Carton House yesterday Hogg assured us that BIL was safely hidden away from poachers. It’s an arduous task, no doubt. Made all the more difficult by Hogg’s susceptibility to hay fever and the dust a stuffed lion absorbs.
On-field matters don’t make Hogg shift quite so uneasily. He won’t celebrate his 21st birthday until this squad is fully embedded down under, two days after the first Test.
Full of natural talent, he is the reason Warren Gatland is able to resist the urge to chase after Jonny Wilkinson. Hogg still counts himself as an out-half turned into a fullback and is enjoying being able to operate as a 10 again in training this week.
“Last week there was a fair bit at 10 and I’m hoping for more this week. I learned a lot from Owen [Farrell] and with Jonny [Sexton] coming in next week I’m sure I’ll learn a lot more.
“In terms of playing 10 or centre, it’s just another string to you bow and I’ll continue to work hard whatever position I’m chosen in. I’m just fortunate enough to be here.”
The parallels are there with Australia’s own baby-faced tyro James O’Connor who, after breaking into the Australian national side as a fullback or wing, this summer could assume the out-half responsibilities.
“I went the opposite way [to O'Connor] I went from 10 to 15.” Hogg says. “I was growing up as a 10 and I’m quite happy to slot there. A few times for Glasgow I’ve started at 15 and jumped in at 10 or jumped in the centre.
To most eyes he may be third choice in three positions in this squad, but that versatility could well result in a Lions Test cap or three before the summer is out.
