Stuart Hogg is on target to play against Argentina in the final Autumn Test despite the fact it was his recently-operated ankle he injured during Saturday’s loss to South Africa.
The British Lions full-back missed nearly two months after ankle surgery but had made a swift comeback to the Scotland camp two weeks before schedule and went straight into the side to play Fiji and then against the Springboks.
However he was pulled quickly off the pitch on Saturday after rolling the same ankle in a tackle after an hour’s play, although there have been no ill-effects and he pronounced himself ready to play a full part in this week’s preparations for the Pumas.
“I just rolled my bad ankle, got it caught in a tackle,” he said. “It was a bit achey but nothing like I had before. I basically tried to hide for a while to run it off but then they kicked straight to me.
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“I feel grand today and I’m ready to crack on this week. I woke up feeling a lot better than I did yesterday, got the recovery done and now I’m looking towards Saturday.”
It’s been a busy spell for the 26-year-old who has announced that he will leave Glasgow at the end of his contract in the summer and join the Exeter Chiefs of the Gallagher Premiership on a two-year deal.
Hogg carefully weighed up the future for him and his family – he and wife Gillian have two young children – and has made the decision with them foremost in his thoughts.
“It was always a family decision,” he said. “What was best for Gill and the kids was first and the rugby came afterwards.
“But I believe I’ve made a very good and the right decision, I’m very much looking forward to next season and playing in a team who play an exciting brand of rugby.”
In the meantime he has re-iterated his desire to leave Glasgow on a high after none seasons with the club.
“I’ve loved my time at Glasgow, they’ve made me the player and the person I am today,” he said.
“There’s a lot of rugby to be played before the end of this season and there’s time to help build the next Warriors full-back.
“It was the same with me and (Argentinian) Bernie Stortoni when I first arrived at Glasgow, I sat behind him for a year and learned a hell of a lot. Then the next season he retired and that was my chance.
“There’s some good youngsters coming through that can potentially take my place in the team.”
Scotland will make no further comment on the incident which resulted in Springbok captain Siya Kolisi receiving just an official warning for an apparent head-butt on Peter Horne in Saturday’s game.
The incident occurred in the first half when the flanker, lying on top of Horne but held by him, seemed to jerk his head backwards into the Scot’s forehead.
World Rugby’s citing commissioner deemed the incident to be “just short” of a red card offence, referring to “mitigating factors” including Horne preventing Kolisi from rejoining play and “the moderate force of the strike to the head”.
It’s a curious decision giving the governing body’s stated determination to clamp down on violent play, especially around the head area, but Kolisi, although the warning will go on his disciplinary record, is free to play against Wales in Cardiff this weekend.
