'There will be a few boys who are gutted... but we can't think about that'
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell insists they cannot dwell on their selection constraints ahead of the rearranged Guinness Six Nations clash with France. Gregor Townsend has lost a number of English-based players from his squad for a game that was originally postponed after the home side suffered a Covid-19 outbreak.
A deal with Premiership Rugby was announced at the weekend to allow players to feature for the game, which falls outside the international window. But it subsequently emerged that Townsend would only be permitted to select five players from English clubs.
British and Irish Lions cap Sean Maitland of Saracens is among those to drop out after starting in Saturday’s win over Italy. Uncapped Glasgow winger Rufus McLean has been called up in his place. Bath prop Jamie Bhatti, who came off the bench against Italy, was also excluded from the squad.
Scotland half-back Russell said: “It’s tough, this is a one-off occasion that this will happen. So I’m not sure if it’s fair or unfair, we just have to prepare as best we can with the players we have got. There will be a few boys who are gutted they are not able to be involved. Sean has been involved in most games in the Six Nations, Jamie Bhatti was back in again.
“But we can’t think about that, we just have to prepare as best we can. As a squad, if we sit back and look at ifs and buts and ‘it’s not fair’ and all this stuff, it will be detrimental to our performance. We need to be solely focused on the game and who we have got.”
“I was always labelled as someone who can bring such tempo off the bench. I can understand that, but I want to start week in, week out"
– @BenjiVellacott9 tells @JLyall93 ??? the reasons why he has now said yes to Scottish interest and is leaving Wasps https://t.co/j97t3e0DSm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 23, 2021
Townsend had been adamant Scotland should not be weakened for any rearranged match, which now serves as a tournament decider as France bid to overhaul leaders Wales. But he has also seen Ewan Ashman, Cornell du Preez, James Lang and Duncan Taylor drop out of the reckoning.
However, defence coach Steve Tandy echoed Russell’s call to put the issue to one side. “It makes it a little bit more difficult, but it is what it is and we managed to select a squad that we would be pretty confident with to go to France,” the Welshman said. “We can spend a lot of time talking about it, but ultimately that’s not going to help us for Friday. We have got to deal with the hand we are dealt and we are preparing as best we can.”
Russell was always confident he would be cleared to play for Scotland, assuming he continues to pass return to play protocols following a head knock, given some of his Racing 92 teammates will be involved for the hosts. The fly-half is relishing the high-stakes contest. France are chasing a 21-point bonus-point victory to overhaul Wales, while Scotland know a six-point win would see them jump into second place.
“If we manage to do what we are planning and get to second, it’s the highest finish we have had in the Six Nations,” he said. “France are trying to win the tournament so it’s a massive game for both teams. It should hopefully be a great game with both teams chasing bonus points and trying to win by certain margins. So it could be a good one to watch for neutral fans.
“I do enjoy that sort of game, but the majority of people who play and watch rugby will enjoy a game like that. Playing over in Paris, I imagine they will be favourites, but we go there with a great opportunity for us to finish second.
“It will be an extremely tough but enjoyable game to play in if both teams are playing at their best. These are the games as a rugby player that you enjoy the most because there is so much on the line. We will have the Welsh fans behind us and all the fans back here in Scotland. It should be a great game.”
"The amount of s*** they were having in the autumn, how crap Wales were. I’m thinking well, we’re not that crap" https://t.co/5FqgcjH2Ye
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 23, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments