FINN WON’T RUSSELL UP MUCH FOR SCOTS

THAT repetitive drone in the Six Nations background is Scotland coaches and players talking up their chances.

The unpalatable truth, however, is unavoidable: Scotland are uncompetitive year-onyear in the Six Nations.

The Tartan Terror have never recorded more than three wins through 23 editions and they have never finished better than third.

Irish fans can’t but remember their abysmal showing in Yokohama at RWC 2019.

Joe Schmidt’s side were comfortable and out of sight before the half-hour, won by 24 clear points having rotated the front-row before the

50th minute mark and most of the rest of the team before the hour.

The ‘enigmatic’ Finn

Russell (right) led the play from out-half that day, played the entire game, and offered very little as Scotland scored just three points.

Rewind, repeat: Russell will be this year’s No10 again, at least that is what we are being led to believe following a remarkable pro-Russell preSix Nations blurt by coach Gregor Townsend.

Great

Russell, he maintained, so often disciplined in the past had changed his ways, was great for the group and with the younger players. If year-on-year suspicions about Russell and his ability are confirmed, there could well be the sight of Tipperary-born, Glenstaleducated, Munster out-half

Ben Healy in a blue shirt in this campaign.

PROSPECTS: Just making up the numbers. Porous across the centre, Garry Ringrose will tear them asunder. Fifth.

SCOTLAND (Possible line-up): 15 Stuart Hogg; 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Fraser Brown, 3 WP Nel (until Zander Fagerson is fit), 4 Richie Gray, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Jamie Ritchie capt, 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Matt Fagerson