Six Nations boost for Scotland as Russell given all-clear to play in Top 14

Scotland’s Finn Russell has been pencilled in for Saturday club action with Racing 92 after safely coming through a midweek assessment in Paris with neurologist Jean-Francois Chermann.

The out-half missed last weekend’s Six Nations match for Scotland against France due to a concussion suffered during a Top 14 match on February 17, six days before he was due to line out at the Stade de France for his country.

His absence was a massive blow for the Scots, who lost 27-10 and generally looked uninspired against a struggling opposition that had come into the match under a cloud following their heavy defeat to England.

Russell was ruled out of Test selection on Tuesday of last week, Scotland confirming at the time that he had not satisfied that day’s component of the graduated return to play protocol.

It left him making do with BBC TV pundit duty at the Test match while the No10 jersey was taken by Peter Horne, with Adam Hastings providing cover from the bench.

Russell, though, has now been given the all-clear by his club and will play on Saturday against La Rochelle – although his return will add to the weekend’s nervous viewing for Scottish boss Gregor Townsend.

Three of the four non-Scottish based players who featured in Townsend’s matchday 23 in Paris are also due to start with their clubs ahead of next week’s home Six Nations showdown with unbeaten Wales.

? COMPO | Racing 92 vs Stade Rochelais | #R92SR

Le Racing & Boulanger sont fiers de vous présenter le XV de départ, mené par Dimitri Szarzewski qui fera face aux Rochelais demain à 14h45 à Paris La Défense Arena ? !

?? https://t.co/TB4R1DDnHh#RacingFamily pic.twitter.com/9DaPln2pXv

— Racing 92 (@racing92) March 1, 2019

Sean Maitland, Josh Strauss and Gary Graham will all feature for Saracens, Sale and Newcastle respectively, with skipper Greig Laidlaw the only one rested as Clermont have chosen to go with Morgan Parra, who has been dropped from the France squad.

Russell’s injury a fortnight ago highlighted the risk of the Scots relying heavily on star players contracted to clubs outside its jurisdiction. The out-half suffered a game-ending 37th minute collision when a Toulouse player’s knee collided with the side of his face.