Stuart Hogg: Praised by Hodge

Duncan Hodge has challenged Stuart Hogg to maintain his Six Nations form and give himself a chance of representing the British and Irish Lions.

Hogg has been tipped as a contender for a summer berth with the Lions after scoring impressive tries against England and Italy.

But Scotland coaching assistant Hodge has warned the Glasgow full-back he cannot rest on his laurels ahead of the Murrayfield clash with Ireland on Sunday.

Hodge said: "He has got some great attributes and to be put in that mix, you have got to play well five weeks out of five.

"You have got to play well season after season, and that's Hoggy's challenge now, to keep reproducing that good form.

"That's what rugby is about and what being a good player is about, replicating characteristics and form over a sustained period.

"He's an incredibly talented player. "What we are after from all the guys is just that they back it up week to week. "That's where we are going as a squad - Italy has been and gone. It's about what happens on Sunday."

Greig Laidlaw is another back who has impressed, moving from fly-half to scrum-half and putting in a flawless kicking display when Scotland beat Italy 34-10.

"You would not say it's easy for most players but it seems to be fairly easy for him, which is a credit to him," former Scotland stand-off Hodge said.

"He has adapted well and wherever he has played, he has been an integral part of Scotland over the last year.

"It definitely helps when you are scoring tries and it becomes seven instead of five and you are building scoreboard pressure.

"It is an important aspect of the game, so it's great if he can continue to kick his kicks."