STUART HOGG, the Glasgow Warriors full-back, says being left out of last year's PRO12 play offs "killed me" but he understands why it happened and has promised to do his best as a true team player to make sure his side crosses the finishing line and becomes the first Scottish side to win a title this century.
Part of the credit for the total turnaround in his fortunes, he says, goes to Steve Black - the man who sprung to fame in rugby circles as the mentor behind Jonny Wilkinson at Newcastle Falcons - who he has brought in as a personal advisor, helping him get back his appetite for the game.
The Newcastle-based guru has set himself up as a motivational consultant - Wilkinson was arguably his most famous client but the list has included the likes of Danny Cipriani, the England fly-half, and Joey Barton, the footballer - and was approached by Hogg earlier in the season to help him rediscover this appetite for rugby after a dismal year. Hogg's form at both national and club level has been complete vindication of the decision.
"I'm a lot calmer than I used to be, I enjoy it more," said Hogg as he looked forward to this weekend's Guinness PRO12 final against Munster. "At times I just fell out of love with the game, but I enjoy it a lot better right now. Glasgow's a great place to be and I get on with everyone so it's great. I worked a lot with Steve Black during the Six Nations and he helps me all the time. It's so much easier when you're in love with the game and getting enjoyment out of it.
"A few things happened that I learned from and am hoping to move on from. For me, everything is concentrating on the weekend. Being young and inexperienced, at times emotions play a massive part but it's how you channel those emotions and use them in a positive manner.
"We got ourselves into such a great position last year, and not being involved in the two biggest games, I was very disappointed, but there were reasons for that, I've learned and I've moved on. Now it was great to be part of the semi at the weekend and hopefully I'll get selected for this weekend as well."
The goal is to head to Belfast this weekend and come back with the trophy - were it to happen it would be the first tournament silverware to arrive in Scotland since the 1999 Five Nations cup - and with his new maturity, Hogg is convinced they can do it.
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