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Finn Russell lifts lid on half-time dressing room chat that transformed Scotland's dire Calcutta Cup display

Scotland finished the 2019 Six Nations on the high of a draw at Twickenham (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Finn Russell has revealed what went on in half-time dressing room that resulted in Scotland fighting their way back from a 31-7 deficit to draw last March’s Calcutta Cup match with England 38-all. 

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The Scots were in dire straits in that Six Nations match at Twickenham and looked dead and buried as they trooped off to the sheds at the break. 

However, they returned to produce one of the most compelling 40 minutes of rugby ever seen by a Scotland team, jumping into the lead before being held to a draw by an added time England try. 

The revival can be traced back to the interval discussions sparked by Russell, who has now shed some further light on what was said nearly 20 weeks ago.

“It couldn’t have been much worse,” said the talisman to Scottish media this week about the position the team were in that Saturday evening in London. 

“With all players and coaches, you need discussions like that. It has to be open and honest. Whether that is me, another player, you need to have these discussions and say what you think. You might be wrong but as long as you feel comfortable saying it.

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“That is what I try and get out of the young boys. I ask them, ‘What do you think of that, what do you think of this’? The more the young guys speak they will see things differently to others.

“At half-time in that game, something was not working. I was just saying what I thought we had to do. (Scrum-half) Greig (Laidlaw) made a few points, (head coach) Gregor (Townsend) had his points as well.

“I suppose rather than just have Gregor saying we have to do this and that the more heads you have working together the better the outcome. I’m always going to stay true to myself. If I don’t think something is working I am happy to express it.

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“I suppose two years ago (when Scotland were thumped 61-21 by England) we were in the same position, weren’t we, although I suppose it was a different game. With the experience and confidence that has come over the last year… it is hard to say if I would have been able to say it without it.

“I was a bit frustrated at how it was going and there are probably a few factors there as to why I said it and expressed myself as I did.”

Scotland are continuing their World Cup preparations this week with their 44-man squad checked in to the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews.

WATCH: Part one of Operation Jaypan, the two-part RugbyPass documentary series on what the fans can expect at the Rugby World Cup

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Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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