Scotland’s Stuart Hogg is convinced he should have celebrated his senior international debut with a try against Wales on Sunday, revealing referee Romain Poite apologised for disallowing his second-half effort.
The 19-year-old – a full-back by trade – entered the fray in Cardiff on the wing on 15 minutes after Max Evans went off with an ankle problem with the RBS 6 Nations match scoreless.
Tries from Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny had put Wales in a commanding position early in the second half but on 61 minutes, trailing 27-6, Scotland looked to have ended their try drought through Hogg.
The Glasgow flyer appeared to spill Nick de Luca’s pass with the try-line gaping only for television replays to show that Hogg was in control of the ball before he went to ground, then getting to his feet and dotting down.
Poite adjudged that Hogg had knocked on however and while Greig Laidlaw ensured Scotland didn’t make it five matches without a try with his late score and conversion reducing the arrears to 27-13, Hogg admits the referee gave his Scotland debut a bitter twist.
“It was obviously disappointing but I thought it was a try, when it came on the screen afterwards there was no doubt it was a try and I think the referee apologised to Mike [Blair] afterwards and it could have been on another day but for me it was a try,” he said.
“But it was a great honour to play for country and to do it against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in front of a packed out crowd was fantastic.”
Scotland sit fifth in the RBS 6 Nations table with no points from their first two games despite having chances to assume commanding positions against Wales and previously against England.
But Hogg, who would be in line to make his first Scotland against France should Evans fail to recover, believes a first win is within reach when Les Bleus arrive at Murrayfield on February 26.
“We can still begin the next stage of the Championship on a winning note,” he added.
“We’ve got the right boys in the right places and it’s just a matter of time before we click and put in a really good performance and come up with a win.
“We have to be patient but we need to get it soon so hopefully we can get it against France.”
