'Really not sure if the relationship recovers from this'

Gregor Townsend’s decision to leave Finn Russell out of the Scotland squad for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series has been a hot topic on social media since the announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon. The Racing out-half was one of a half-dozen players reprimanded for a breach of team protocol ahead of last March’s Guinness Six Nations match away to Ireland, a game he was dropped to the bench for.

Russell was then given the summer off as Scotland toured South America, alongside several other players who had featured on the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa the previous year.

The Paris-based 30-year-old was going to be unavailable for selection for the end-of-October game versus Australia as Scotland can only select home-based players due to that game taking place outside of the regulation nine player release window, but he won’t be brought back into the fold by head coach Townsend for the other games against Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina at BT Murrayfield.

Instead, Townsend has chosen Edinburgh’s Blair Kinghorn, who started in place of Russell in Dublin last March, Adam Hastings of Gloucester and Glasgow’s Ross Thompson to battle for the No10 jersey in the squad of 40 named for the four-game series.

It’s a decision that has generally caused social media rancour. For example, ex-Scotland lock Jim Hamilton tweeted: “I have to be honest and not be biased because I like the man behind the player but Finn Russell for me is still the best ten this country has ever produced. Great to see Adam Hastings in but Finn is the GOAT. More to it for sure (I genuinely don’t know and I won’t ask).”

I have to be honest and not be bias because I like the man behind the player but, Finn Russell for me is still the best 10 this country has ever produced. Great to see Adam Hastings in but, Finn is ?. More to it for sure (and I genuinely don’t know and I won’t ask).

— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) October 19, 2022

Ex-England out-half Andy Goode, who co-hosts The Rugby Pod with Hamilton, suggested: “Someone ask Gregor Townsend to give his head a wobble! How is Finn Russell not in the Scotland squad? Madness.” These pro-Russell views weren’t without support. Journalist Paul Williams tweeted: “Bloody hell. Finn Russell has been properly dropped. As in dropped, dropped.”

Meanwhile, Will Owen, another journalist, added: “This could be my Finn Russell fandom speaking in denial, but I think Gregor’s just putting an extra bit of pressure on Finn and developing some extra options ahead of the RWC. Sure, they have had a rocky past, but I don’t believe he thinks Finn is not one of the top three tens in Scotland.”

Opta Jonny ventured down the statistical route to highlight the mercurial talents of Russell in the Scotland jersey. “1.7 – Finn Russell has averaged 0.6 try assists and 1.1 line break assists per 80 minutes for Scotland in this current RWC cycle. His combined total of 1.7 is the most of any tier-one player. However, he has conceded the most turnovers per 80 minutes in that period (2.2). Mercurial.”

The final word goes to Tom English, the BBC Scotland journalist who was critical of Russell’s recent form. “Finn Russell had been out of form for quite a while,” he wrote. “Strip away the hype. Indispensable at his best, he has been nowhere near that level. Still, it’s a very big call/gamble from Gregor Townsend. Really not sure if the relationship recovers from this.”

Someone ask Gregor Townsend to give his head a wobble! How is Finn Russell not in the @Scotlandteam squad? Madness

— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) October 19, 2022

This could be my Finn Russell fandom speaking in denial, but I think Gregor's just putting an extra bit of pressure on Finn + developing some extra options ahead of the RWC.

Sure, they've had a rocky past, but I don't believe he thinks Finn's not one of the top 3 10s in Scotland https://t.co/pbgSx34wrB

— Will Owen (@will_owen9) October 19, 2022

Bloody hell.

Finn Russell has been properly dropped.

As in dropped, dropped.

— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) October 19, 2022

1.7 – Finn Russell has averaged 0.6 try assists and 1.1 line break assists per 80 minutes for Scotland in this current RWC cycle, his combined total of 1.7 is the most of any Tier 1 player; however, he has conceded the most turnovers per 80 mins in that period (2.2). Mercurial. pic.twitter.com/PzTJiKqnVU

— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) October 19, 2022

Finn Russell had been out of form for quite a while. Strip away the hype. Indispensable at his best, he’s been nowhere near that level. Still, it’s a very big call/gamble from GT. Really not sure if the relationship recovers from this.

— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) October 19, 2022