Finn Russell on training with Blair Kinghorn in wake of Stuart Hogg's exit
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has been encouraged by his blossoming on-field relationship with Blair Kinghorn following the surprise retirement of 100-cap full-back Stuart Hogg.
Hogg announced his immediate retirement three weeks ago after deciding his body could not handle his initial plan to keep going until after the World Cup.
Russell and Hogg had a close understanding honed by many years playing together for Glasgow Warriors and their country but the new Bath signing feels there is potential in a partnership with Edinburgh’s Kinghorn, who had recently been one of his rivals for the number 10 jersey.
“It’s obviously slightly different,” said Russell on adapting without his former captain. “What Hoggy brought, he has so much experience at the top level so I was able to bounce questions off him and interact really well. We got on really well.
“It’s obviously different having Blair or Ollie Smith there, whoever is playing for us.
“But in training, if it’s been me and Blair in the same team, as we all know Blair can play 10 really well, so we have interacted really easily and chopped and changed who is at 10 all the time. Sometimes if he is in the wide ruck he might jump into 10 in the next phase which allows me to be a little bit wider.
“The way Blair has been training at full-back has been really good. He is hitting the ball really well, he is a big guy, he is really quick. He has different attributes to Hoggy.
“The way we have linked has been really good which is great to see because it is a new relationship between me and Blair at 10 or 15. Hoggy has been there for the last 10 years.”
Russell bowed out of a five-year spell in France with Racing 92 in June to sign for Bath but is relishing the prospect of a swift return for the World Cup, where Scotland face Ireland, South Africa, Tonga and Romania in Pool B.
Russell said: “The following they get for rugby in France, it’s one of the best countries in the world for that, and for the World Cup it will be even more.
“I was at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups but for me this could potentially be the best one for us as players with the atmosphere and hype.
“I know what the French crowds can be like and what the build-up to games can be like. Obviously so will Richie Gray. Hopefully I can chat to the boys and tell them what it will be like. It won’t be like Japan or even like London, Newcastle or Leeds. It will be very different.
“The opening game is at Marseille, I have never played at that stadium but I have heard it’s amazing.
“It’s the biggest stage and a country that loves rugby so it will be great fun.”
Scotland face the hosts on consecutive weekends, with the first of the summer series taking place at Murrayfield on Saturday, before they complete their warm-up programme against Georgia.
“These next three games will be really important, for myself and the team, to get back into it,” Russell said.
“It’s six or seven weeks I have not played so it will be good to get out as quick as possible this weekend and get back to playing well.
“I might play well straight away, I’m not sure, but after eight weeks off it’s very different going from training to a Test match against the number two team in the world.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments