Hogg backs Celtic strengths

Interesting stats reveal a strong tournament

Edinburgh flanker Allister Hogg - just one of a host of young Scotland players making their mark on the international scene - seems destined for big things this season. But first and foremost on his mind is the Gunners' Celtic League campaign, and the 2004/05 season is not looking prosperous.

When we chatted with Hogg last week, Edinburgh had yet to win a game, and the Scotland flanker said that the team was not low on morale, but were rather waiting for the ball to bounce in their favour. 

And last weekend it did - emphatically so - as Edinburgh pulled off a comprehensive 35-16 victory over the Cardiff Blues, and while the Gunners still languish at the bottom of the table - ahead of only The Borders - it will provide the Scots with the perfect fillip for the road ahead.

But, as Hogg points out, Edinburgh's strength could again prove to be the death knell for the international-laden outfit. When the Autumn internationals get underway the Gunners will lose a number of their stars to the purple hue of Scotland.

"Edinburgh went well last year," Hogg told Planet Rugby.

"But the Autumn internationals definitely affected us, we lost a lot of points during that period. I don't think we won a single game during that stage of the tournament."

The side effects of strong international representation in a domestic team always weakens the latter - an aliment common in Test playing nations where the elite players are divided between just two or three teams.

And it is not a situation likely to disappear either, something that Hogg readily acknowledges.

"Having a strong squad obviously effects the domestic side when their senior players are lost to the Test team, but it speaks well for the team that are producing the players in the first place," he said

The Celtic League, meanwhile, still has its critics. Many feel the tournament has failed to capture the imagination of the fans. Ireland's apparent disregard for the tournament has added further fuel to the argument.

Many believe the teams from Scotland, Wales and Ireland merely fail to live up to the standards set by their counterparts in the Zurich Premiership, thus isolating the fans. But a closer look at the results in 2003/04 may raise a few eyebrows.

Of the 21 games contested between Celtic League teams and Zurich Premiership teams in the Heineken Cup last season - the Celtic League won 11 - and Hogg believes the Celtic competition more than stands up to England's offering.

"Last year when the Celtic League sides met with the Zurich Premiership teams - the Celtic sides won their fair share of the games," stressed Hogg.

"It definitely stands up to them [the other tournaments] and the tournament has some great games on offer.

"We just need to get the fans out to support the teams and the competition."

By Rob Peters