Russell can win games himself – and may have to
Where Wales have the Anscombe-biggar double act, Scotland have a one-off genius
When I watch Finn Russell play rugby there is a part of me that wonders if he was born in the wrong era. With his relaxed nature, broad grin and maverick streak, it strikes me that the Scotland fly-half should have been playing back in the 1970s, when the sideburns were long, putting on a show was just as important as the final score and games were celebrated for hours in the bar after the final whistle.
He is a magician and, on his day, a miracle worker. Russell is not very quick but he makes the ball do the work and his game has gone up a notch since he moved to France in the summer. Gregor Townsend, the Scotland head coach, knows Russell can win a game on his own and, considering the side’s injury crisis, he might have to do just that if they are to beat Wales today.
But Russell also stands out as a rarity in the modern-day game because mavericks are few and far between. One of the toughest tasks teams face is finding a balance between creativity and control, and there are few better examples of that than Wales and their choice at No10.
With Scotland the equation is simple – Russell is far and away
their best fly-half so they have to build a team who work for him.
But Wales have two excellent fly-halves with two very different skill-sets.
Gareth
Anscombe, who starts at Murrayfield today, is a less-extrovert version of Russell. He is an exciting talent who Wales think can kick-start an excellent back line, while he also has that turn of pace his Scottish counterpart lacks. But to many Welsh eyes Dan Biggar, rather than Anscombe, should be starting. The logic is that Biggar brings more control and predictability – which I mean as a compliment – to a match, but he lacks Anscombe’s attacking spark.
And strangely, I believe Warren Gatland’s choice to start with Anscombe shows that the Wales head coach actually has more faith in Biggar. He knows most games are decided in the final 20 minutes, so by bringing Biggar on for that vital period – as he did against England – Gatland has his key general out on the field, fresh and ready to take control.
As I remember from my playing days, it can be a body blow to see the opposition bring on a playmaker of that class, and it could be argued Biggar has actually had more impact during his limited time on the field than Anscombe has despite starting against France and England.
So far the balance has worked well but to have two fly-halves of almost equal stature is very rare in an international side and in many ways it reminds me of the situation at Mercedes when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were battling it out to be the No1 driver. Everyone wants to be the main man and I do have my doubts that the harmonious situation between Anscombe and Biggar will last. Having been the starting fly-half for so long, I cannot believe Biggar is happy with the situation, no matter what Gatland is telling him in private.
But the fact Wales have greater strength in depth will have a huge impact. Russell will have to try the spectacular because there is a lack of experience outside him, with Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland on the treatment table.
But Anscombe can also try the unexpected because if it does not come off there is another player ready to come on. Wales must prepare as best they can for Russell’s unpredictability, while Scotland must be ready for Anscombe and then Biggar’s methodical, territory-based game.
So there is more pressure on Russell than his Welsh counterparts. But the thing with mavericks is that they are capable of surprising you. Russell reminds me of the wonderful Carlos Spencer, whose unpredictability New Zealand made into a virtue. Scotland, to their credit, are trying to do the same.
And if I had to choose between Russell, Anscombe and Biggar – the maverick, the creator and the controller – then I would choose the Scot every time. A maverick can win a game on his own, and I have a feeling Russell might do just that today.