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Townsend unfazed by the risk of making Russell Scotland captain
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend believes Finn Russell will “thrive” on the responsibility of leading his country despite the added burden of captaincy on his playmaker-in-chief.
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The Bath fly-half, 31, is already in charge of the Scots’ attack and is the second most experienced member of Townsend’s Six Nations squad with 75 caps, only behind lock Richie Gray.
With uncertainty over the fitness of co-captain Rory Darge, who said he was “aiming for one of the first two games” as he recovers from a knee injury, Russell is most likely to lead Scotland out at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium for their opening fixture against Wales on 3 February.
He was handed the armband for the first time last summer for a World Cup warm-up Test against France at Murrayfield, guiding the Scots to a 25-21 comeback victory from 21-3 down.
While admitting concern about Russell’s workload was “definitely a factor” in his decision-making process, Townsend said the fly-half’s previous captaincy stint convinced him it would not be an issue.
“Captaincy is something that can help you grow further as a player and a leader, and you can thrive on that,” he said. “But there is the other side too, the responsibility of things like today (media commitments) and talking to the players more. Could it potentially change how you play?
“Now, having spoken to Finn in the week before he was captain in the summer against France, he wasn’t going to change how he would lead the team – because he is a key leader for us in meetings and training sessions and in the 80 minutes on the field in games.
“On reflection, he really thrived that week with the other elements of captaincy but also in the game – as Rory did the week before when we played Italy. So yes, it is a consideration but we have confidence that this will add another layer to their performances.”
The chances of Glasgow flanker Darge featuring against Wales, or France in Scotland’s second game at Murrayfield on 10 February, will be reassessed early next week as he steps up his rehabilitation from a strained knee ligament.
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“When I get back into camp I will get tested by the physios and they will see how my progress is going,” he said. “Then hopefully I can start integrating into team training and running and things like that. It is very much seeing how the knee reacts to progressing my rehab and taking it from there.”
Darge’s availability or otherwise could also affect whether Jamie Ritchie features in the match-day 23 against Wales, having been stripped of the captaincy and told to focus on competing with the likes of Luke Crosbie, Matt Fagerson, Andy Christie and Josh Bayliss for a back-row spot.
“He has reacted really well,” Townsend said of his former skipper. “We have been communicating for a few weeks now around his game and also the captaincy. He was well aware we were going to leave this decision until the weekend.
“The focus for him is about getting into the team to play Wales and he is really determined to do that. That will be tough because the competition we have in the back row right now is of a high level. We are all optimistic that will bring the best out of Jamie, and Jamie can be one of our best players, back at his top level where we are all hoping will be now.
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“We saw on Friday night when he came on for Edinburgh against Scarlets, there was a real hunger and intent about how he went about his game. It is going to bring the best out of him, we believe, and the ability to just focus on that in training leading into the Wales game should be a positive.”
Townsend also revealed that Darcy Graham’s quad injury – sustained playing for Edinburgh against Gloucester on 13 January – is “more significant” than originally hoped, with the wing ruled out of Scotland’s first two games at least.
“We are hopeful he will be available for round three (against England on 24 February) but that will just depend how he reacts over the next couple of weeks when he starts rehab again.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
40 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
40 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“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.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 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 comments