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Upset Scotland fans hit out at the SRU after Finn Russell's sanction
Scotland will go into their opening match of the Six Nations against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on February 1 without Finn Russell after he was sent home to his club Racing 92. It has left fans demanding an explanation.
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Scottish Rugby released this statement on Twitter regarding the announcement: “Stand-off Finn Russell will play no further part in preparations for Scotland’s Six Nations opener against Ireland, having been disciplined for a breach of team protocol during the week’s camp in Edinburgh. He has returned to his club.”
While judgement needs to be reserved until it is clear what has happened, fans have said that they have paid money to watch their team play and they deserve to know why arguably their best player is missing.
Given the considerable impact that this decision could have on Gregor Townsend’s team, it is understandable that the Scottish public want more clarity on this affair as the statement did not go into any detail.
While it has been noted that no player is bigger than the team, and Russell should not receive preferential treatment simply because he is one of their most influential players, the lack of an explanation is what is particularly irking so many fans.
What’s gone on here then? More information needs to be forthcoming. A lot of ppl have spent hard earned coin, with some youngsters maybe coming to see their idol Finn as well…
— Michael Stowe (@michaeljstowe) January 23, 2020
You really need to expand on this. Exactly why aren't we going to have our best player? In this Pro age, it's us who are keeping the SRU going.
— Western Wanderer (@ColinMackie007) January 23, 2020
Alongside captain Stuart Hogg, the fly-half has always been recognised as one of Scotland’s key players and is playing at the top of his game at the moment in France.
I feel sick.
— McCaskill (@scondigib) January 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/Colin_MacD/status/1220330054644879360?s=20
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https://twitter.com/AlexFWatt/status/1220330364511707136?s=20
It would be nice to know what this "breach of team protocol" actually was, given he is one of our most important players and all… https://t.co/SzILqU5Hfb
— Andrew (@andrewpunton) January 23, 2020
Imagine spending the kind of money you have to spend to go see Scotland throughout the six nations and finding out the best player has been patched off. Sore one. https://t.co/iG8xBzCx0X
— Angus Coutts (@angusmaroon) January 23, 2020
The game in Dublin has now been described as the perfect opportunity for Adam Hastings to step up and replace Russell.
The Racing ten is undeniable a pivotal cog in the Scotland team, but Hastings has always been seen as a worthy replacement, who will not have to deputise against Ireland but possibly for the entire tournament.
I get the 'no individual is bigger than the team' approach.
But I wonder what kind of breach of protocol justifies sending arguably your best player home? https://t.co/2ulNIKveoO
— Rhys J (@reezj12) January 23, 2020
Explain what the breach was please? Do you understand how popular Russell is and how unpopular the SRU are right now? Dodson's salary, The Japan disrepute debacle, a coach that hasn't been able to deliver. Do we add this to the list too?
— Colin McLennan ??????? (@Colin_McLennan) January 23, 2020
C’est fin
— Barry O'Driscoll (@BarryOD71) January 23, 2020
The Scottish Rugby Union has not ingratiated itself with the Scottish public in recent weeks after the payments to their executives were revealed – and this will not help their cause nine days before the Six Nations starts.
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Comments on RugbyPass
So Ireland will be tired. Despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Peoples champions? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win inconsequential tests. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
1 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
1 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
2 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
5 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
2 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
5 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
5 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
4 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
5 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
12 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
5 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to comments