Russell’s backing for Scotland style

FINN Russell reckons Scotland’s risk-reward balance is bound to tilt in their favour if the Dark Blues continue making the kind of brave calls which lit up their narrow defeat to Australia.

Vern Cotter’s team put on a display full of swagger against the Wallabies on Saturday, with the chip from stand-off Russell that teed up Huw Jones’ opening try the sensational highlight.

Yet they still found themselves stumbling to a 23-22 defeat as Bernard Foley nailed a conversion to snatch victory away from the Scots for the second time in a year.

Australia’s fly-half kicked the controversial late penalty which denied Scotland a place in last year’s World Cup semi-finals.

However, Glasgow playmaker Russell believes Scotland’s attacking display showed they are moving in the right direction.

He said: “The first try was a pre-worked play. We knew how Australia defended off that line-out so we came up with a plan to overcome it. We ran it all week and it came off all three times we ran it in training.

“It was maybe a bit more high risk than a normal pass. However, when the space is there and you know it is on because you have executed it before, then you don’t see it that way.

“As players, we like to play that exciting style of rugby and it is the gameplan Vern has drawn up for us too. We just try to execute it as well as possible.

“It’s a fun game for us to play but it’s also a tough style to defend against. When the opposition can’t predict what’s coming it makes it harder for them to defend.

“We hit it up the forwards, we threw it wide, we put chips in, we offloaded. When there are so many different things coming at you when you’re defending, that’s hard.

“Yeah it’s high risk at times but we have the confidence and the self belief to pull it off.

“We showed that by scoring three tries against one of the best teams in the world. OK they beat us by a point but, attacking-wise, we feel we’re in a good place.”

Perhaps a more pragmatic approach was required in the closing 10 minutes as the Scots held on to a 22-16 lead.

Cotter’s team were pinned back before Tevita Kuridrani grabbed the crucial score which set up Foley’s kick for victory.

But Scotland confidence has not been dented.

“Yeah it’s another defeat but we need to take the positives out of it,” said Russell.

Australia are elated and Scotland disconsolate after the Aussies’ narrow victory at Murrayfield on Saturday.