The clues were all there the night before this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship got underway.

A swathe of English defenders left sprawled across the turf like a succession of slalom gates as Stuart Hogg danced and sped his way some 60 metres for a score reminiscent of scenes from the 60s and 70s as George Best slashed his autograph across that sporting era.

For Georgie boy, the fifth Beatle, read Hoggy boy, the fifth Arctic Monkey . . . well, here's hoping on behalf of the hero-starved Scottish rugby community. It is to hoped the 19-year-old shows greater restraint off the field, if and when, he is elevated to rugby's elite

Hogg's subsequent Test debut nine days after he produced that astonishing solo score for Scotland A against the England Saxons did nothing to quell the clamour that has accompanied his remarkable rise from apprentice rugby player six months ago, to full internationalist. Even before Hogg revealed yesterday that there was a family connection to Best there were shades of the sporting 70s.

That he has been mentored by Jim Renwick, the last teenager to start a Test for Scotland in 1972, has been well documented and Hogg explained just how the couthy former British & Irish Lion has helped him.

"Jim is a great man, he is good at keeping me composed and keeping my feet on the ground. He just tells me what to do before and after a game. It is good to have Jim on board, he has been amazing for me and I'm sure that he will continue to be," he said.

"He just tells me to be basic in everything that I do, passing, kicking, all the basic skills and to enjoy myself. Rugby nowadays is all about enjoyment and, as you can tell, I am listening to him. He is great to have on board, he tells me now and then what to do. He is just sitting back and watching. He makes some notes and we meet up now and then and reflect on what I have done and look forward to what is ahead."

Hogg apparently shares a trait with another Scottish rugby legend who made his debut that year since Andy Irvine was always known for running with his tongue sticking out, something pointed out to him by acolytes in his home town of Hawick.

"You get some boys who are behind you and some who give you a little bit of stick, so I have had a little bit of stick for my [canary yellow] boots and not only that but for the fact that when I run I twirl my tongue or something and it sticks out," he said with a grin. "I have had some tips from boys who were absolutely useless at rugby, but that is just a bit of banter.

"Everybody has got an opinion, some good, some bad, it is the same wherever you go. You get some supporters in Hawick and maybe some people who are a wee bit annoyed that you are there, but I am not bothered."

Nor should he be when his stock is riding so high, as borne out by the views expressed by more experienced team-mates yesterday.

Greig Laidlaw, his fellow Borderer, but also captain of the Glasgow Warrior's biggest rivals Edinburgh, could hardly have been more effusive.

"Young Hoggy coming into the team has shown what he's capable of down in Wales so we want to get his hands on the ball as much as we can and play in these wider channels. Hopefully, that'll break the game up," he said.

"I think he will be a key man and I think he will be for a number of years. I think he's a real talent. I don't know if I'm surprised. Sometimes players like that come along and international rugby is about timing as well with Mossy [Chris Paterson] retiring there was a gap there and it's worked out well for him.

"He's come along and he's the form player in Scotland so he deserves his place. I hope he can bring that confidence because he should be confident in his own abilities. I think it can rub off on others, youthful exuberance coming in. Some of the older guys will get a lift from him, but he comes in and does his stuff which certainly picks everyone up around about him."

However, perhaps the greatest compliment of all came from Graeme Morrison, Hogg's hugely experienced clubmate, who almost seemed to welcome his own omission from the Scotland squad for the trip to Wales because of what it had allowed to happen.

"I was left out for Hoggy and he's an up-and-coming star who showed he can mix it with the best so I've got no problems at all," was the centre's matter of fact assessment.

It seems, then, that a superstar may have been born. No pressure young man. The rugby nation awaits.