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Changing room photo suggests Finn Russell doing just fine despite Scottish dramas

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

A post-match changing room photograph taken following Racing 92’s  27 – nil hammering of Castres suggests exiled Scottish star Finn Russell is doing just fine back in France.

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Last week Russell dramatically walked out of Scotland camp after he went on an impromptu Sunday night drinking session that saw him miss Monday training.

A Scotland statement read: “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.”

Duncan Weir has just replaced him in the squad and initial word from the camp was that Russell would need to make the first move to bring himself back into Gregor Townsend’s Six Nations fold.

He returned to Racing 92 and played a key role in their thumping of Castres. Despite being away from home, the Parisians picked apart their rivals in a virtuoso performance.

A post-match snap shows the flyhalf bare-chested and flexing his muscles.

The loss of Scotland’s star 10 is being met with dismay by Scottish fans. Russell has been in exceptional form for Racing this season, and while Adam Hastings makes for an able replacement, most feel Russell’s X-Factor and form will be hard to replace.

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The 27-year-old was named Man of the Match in the memorable 38-38 draw against England in the Six Nations last year, a contest in which Scotland rallied from a 31-point deficit.

Russell told James Harrington writing for the Scottish Sportsmail that he is just a ‘phone call away’ should his Scottish international teammates need any advice as they face Ireland in Dublin.

Scotland fly to Spain this morning for warm-weather training, but it looks like something is going to to have to happen behind the scenes for this row to be smoothed over.

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WATCH: Russell warned he must make the first move to salvage Scotland career.

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fl 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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