French trip has Russell fired up to take Carter’s crown
TASKED with replacing the most gifted, flamboyant showman of his generation, Finn Russell is unlikely to take a step back. It’s simply not in his nature.
The Glasgow Warriors stand-off enjoys a key role in Gregor Townsend’s Scotland side, which has lit up Murrayfield over the past three weeks, impressing all with the joie de vivre of their attacking play.
Now Russell’s mercurial talents are destined for Racing 92 and he travelled to the outskirts of Paris to meet with their coaching staff yesterday ahead of his move from Scotstoun at the end of the season.
As revealed by Sportsmail, Russell will earn in the region of £700,000 per year in the French capital, with SRU chief executive Mark Dodson last week admitting the move represented a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Finn’.
‘We put a big number on the table — as big as we could go — and we weren’t anywhere remotely close (to what was being offered in France),’ continued Dodson.
‘Finn is a superstar, so let him go and earn superstar money. There is no ill-feeling from us, so let’s hope he does a great job out there.’
Money isn’t the half of it, though. The occupant of Racing’s No10 jersey over the past couple of years has been All Black legend and two-time World Cup winner, Dan Carter, who will leave to play in Japan at the end of the campaign.
Identified as a contender to fill the boots of arguably the greatest playmaker to pick up a ball, alongside recently-signed South African No10 Pat Lambie, praise doesn’t really come much higher than that for a fly-half.
But it feels like the natural progression for a player who helped Glasgow to the Pro12 title in 2015 on a journey which has identified him as the nation’s premier flyhalf. Just look at his recent form.
Up against New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett, crowned World Player of the Year for a second successive season earlier this week, and Bernard Foley of Australia, another supremely gifted operator at ten; Russell was the most influential fly-half on the pitch on each occasion.
His brilliance in attack has been a key part of Townsend’s new-look Scotland and, about to become rich beyond his wildest dreams, Russell has vowed to channel his talents and energy into winning silverware with Racing.
‘I had the chance to play six seasons in Glasgow,’ said the 25-year-old yesterday.
‘But, for me, for my progress, I felt it was time to change the environment.
‘Like any rugby player, my goal is to win. I want to win titles with Racing. It is a club determined to play as many finals as possible and win... and one which is likely to do so!
‘It’s really my main goal and Racing has all the potential to win the Champions Cup or TOP14. I cannot wait to help them be successful.
‘It’s a great club. I’m looking forward to settling down and playing with my new team-mates as well as working with the coaches and all the staff.
‘I have faced Dan (Carter) a few times in the past and I know he is one of the best players in the world.
‘He has done wonderful things at this club over the past couple of years, as well as previously in his career with the All Blacks.
‘I didn’t think of his departure. I thought he would maybe still have been here and I could have learned from him. But, nevertheless, I am really looking forward to it.
‘The whole week has been magical — playing our best rugby to beat Australia at Murrayfield, to now being here in Paris. I’m delighted to join.’
Russell may well have a chance to show his worth on French soil in just a couple of weeks, with Glasgow set to play in Montpellier on December 16 as they try to salvage their faltering European Champions Cup campaign.
Things are going much more smoothly on the domestic front for Dave Rennie’s side, though. Sunday’s seven-try thrashing of the Ospreys in Wales marked a ninth straight victory from the outset in the Pro14.
Starting at full-back in the 47-6 rout was Ruaridh Jackson. But you need to wind the clock back 24 hours to appreciate the full extent of his contribution.
As the champagne corks popped and beer bottles clinked inside the home dressing room on Saturday, it would have been all too easy for Jackson to kick back and drink in the atmosphere as Scotland celebrated a richly successful autumn Test series.
After Townsend had been forced into a late reshuffle of his back-line due to Stuart Hogg’s injury, it was Jackson who was parachuted in at the last minute to provide cover on the bench.
He duly replaced Sean Maitland for the final seven minutes of the walloping of the Wallabies. Not content with that, though, he then made a mad dash south to Wales from Edinburgh to start for Warriors the following afternoon.
Paying tribute to Jackson’s appetite and desire to play, Glasgow assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys said of the 29-year-old: ‘It was awesome for Ruaridh to do that. He has been brilliant for us.
‘It was quite a youthful side we had down in Wales and we were a bit short. So, for an experienced player to make that kind of commitment and travel down straight from the Scotland game just shows what a wonderful professional he is.’