Finn Russell defends Glasgow's 4G pitch after Scarlets' player describes it as 'shocking'

Scotland Number 10 Finn Russell, who delivered the “miracle pass” which triggered England’s Six Nations demise, returns to haunt Eddie Jones’s men at Twickenham on Sunday promising more moments of magic in the famous Barbarians colours.

Russell pulled the tactical strings as Scotland defeated England 25-13 with his wonder pass to Huw Jones becoming an instant internet sensation for the outside half who is swapping Glasgow Warriors for Racing 92 next season. It means Russell will no longer be playing on Glasgow’s artificial pitch which has come in for widespread criticism from Scarlets players who were left with cuts and burns following their Guinness Pro 14 semi-final 28-13 win over the Warriors.

Russell hasn’t had any issues with the pitch during his career with the Warriors and told RugbyPass; “I like the pitch and you get used to it. Before we got it we were playing on a grass pitch which was pretty poor and would be training on 4G then because you couldn’t use the main pitch. It made sense to get it done and Racing have got the same one over there. You get cuts and grazes but nothing that stops me going out and enjoying my rugby.

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“If it is really dry you can sometimes get burns but it’s never been too bad and for Glasgow and Racing it allows you to play the kind of rugby you want to produce.”

Wherever Russell plays that pass against the English will be a topic of conversation and his ability to thread the ball through the eye of a needle will feature in England’s defensive planning for their clash with the famous Baabaas at Twickenham.

The Baabaas style is to run from everywhere which fits neatly into Russell’s rugby mindset and with England currently on a three-game losing run, another loss just before they head to South Africa for a three test series would be another significant body blow.

Russell is well aware of the impact his pass made and said; “You throw those long passes in training and I suppose it was on a much bigger stage that day. We did have a good night after winning the Calcutta Cup. It was amazing for us to have beaten England and the way we have been playing in the last couple of years, we have been building to something like that and it was great to get the result.

“Having played quite a bit together with Huw I knew what he liked and that if I threw the ball in a certain area he would go for it. It is about having a good understanding. This is going to be a different game to the one at Murrayfield but all the coaches I have played under have given me a freedom to play. I am looking forward to getting to know and playing with all the boys in this Barbarians squad because they are some of the best players in the World which is brilliant.

“It is about going out at Twickenham, expressing ourselves and enjoying the occasion because the reason we all started playing rugby was to have some fun.”

Russell will be filling the void at Racing 92 created by the departure of All Blacks legend Dan Carter and will be battling for the No10 jersey with Springbok Pat Lambie. Having lost in the European Champions Cup final to Leinster, Racing are now in the semi-finals of the Top14 competition highlighting the quality of the squad he is joining. “I have spoken to some of the guys in the Baabas squad who are playing in the Top 14 and they speak very highly of Racing as a club.

“They were very unlucky in the Champions Cup final but hopefully they will make the Top 14 final.”