Finn Russell is Scotland's latest injury scare as good news emerges on Hogg prognosis
Gregor Townsend was given a Sunday afternoon scare with the sight of Scotland out-half Finn Russell exiting for a head injury assessment just before half-time in Racing 92’s Top 14 match with Toulouse and not returning for the second half.
While both clubs rested their France international players, the Scottish play-maker was forced to start the high-profile league match just six days before his country take on the French at the Stade de France in the Six Nations.
COACHING ' | Racing 92 v Stade Toulousain | #R92ST
Finn Russell ? Ben Volavola
? Racing 12 – 27 Toulouse
— Racing 92 (@racing92) February 17, 2019
It left Townsend vulnerable to hearing bad news about his player on the same day it was reported that Stuart Hogg’s injury last weekend against Ireland wasn’t as bad as feared.
It had been suggested the full-back would miss the remainder of the championship, but his shoulder problem could now clear in time for the final round Calcutta Cup match versus England. Hogg is rated as an “outside bet” to be available.
Update on Hogg shoulder injury in @SundayTimesScot: no surgery required; hasn't given up hope of featuring in Calcutta Cup closer on Mar 16; even if Twickenham comes slightly too soon, the outlook looks positive for Glasgow's Champions Cup trip to Saracens two weeks later
— Mark Palmer (@MarkPalmerST) February 17, 2019
That initial good news, though, was followed by Townsend being left sweating over Russell’s availability to face France after he didn’t complete a hugely entertaining five-try first-half that ended with Toulouse leading 27-12 in a match that was a dress rehearsal for the March 31 Champions Cup quarter-final between the teams.
Russell had been having a mixed afternoon before his game-ending 37th minute collision with the ball-carrying Lucas Tauzin, the Toulouse player’s knee colliding with the side of the face of the tackling out-half and forcing him off for a HIA. He didn’t return for the second half, his place being taken by Fijian Ben Volavola.
It was Russell’s loose pass that had earlier given Toulouse their opening try. He quickly hit back, deftly stepping inside Zack Holmes to score on 11 minutes and then giving the try-scoring assist to Juan Imhoff to finish off a move he had started with a ground-gaining break out wide.
Russell wasn’t on place-kicking duty for Racing, the out-half spotted making a change signal towards the bench after his initial try.
Teddy Iribaren was instead on the tee, but the Scot still did some tactical kicking during the course of an opening hand in which he was responsible for a big missed tackle in the lead-up to Toulouse’s second try.
The early exit of Russell mirrored the premature departure of Wales out-half Dan Biggar from Northampton’s Saturday match in the Premiership against Sale.
10' | Racing 92 v Stade Toulousain | #R92ST
Essai de FINN RUSSELL suite à une touche des Ciel et Blanc dans les 22 Toulousain.
? Racing 5 – 7 Toulouse pic.twitter.com/7FWKD93E6T
— Racing 92 (@racing92) February 17, 2019
The injury concerns surrounding both play-makers heading into round three of the Six Nations highlighted the risk of countries relying heavily on star players contracted to clubs elsewhere.
Six of Scotland’s seven players based in other countries had to play club rugby. So, too, did five of Wales’ six non-Welsh based players along with the three Italy players earning a wage in France and England respectively.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
103 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
1 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
2 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
2 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
103 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
103 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
103 Go to comments