Wilson sees positive outcome as duo open dialogue amid fall-out

THERE was much optimism at the weekend when Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend revealed that exiled fly-half Finn Russell was due to take part in a coaches meeting via conference call to aid Scotland’s preparation for their clash with France this weekend, but it appears that optimism was somewhat premature.

Russell and Townsend have been at loggerheads since the Racing 92 man walked out of the Scotland camp ahead of his side’s opening

Six Nations fixture six weeks ago. However, the head coach revealed he had taken part in “positive” conversations with Russell, and that the 27-yearold was even going to call into a coaches meeting from Paris on Monday to impart his knowledge of the French players ahead of their visit to Murrayfield on Sunday.

However, assistant coach Danny Wilson revealed that the planned conference call with Russell ended up not happening as a change of timings from the Scotland coaches meant that the player was no longer available to take part as planned.

“We had to change our timings, which didn’t work out for us to be able to fulfil it as a conference call,” said Wilson.

“We couldn’t [do the call] in terms of timings for Finn and the coaching group. Our coaching meeting changed from the original time, it was supposed to be earlier in the day and then it became later in the day.”

However, there has been further contact between Russell and Townsend, with the fly-half still apparently keen to give his input to help the Scotland team’s cause and Wilson remains hopeful a resolution to this impasse between the pair can be reached.

“[Finn has had input] through communications with Gregor, yes, but not as a conference call, just because our timings changed and didn’t fit,” Wilson went on.

“There has been a fair bit of communication back and forth, which is obviously a real positive forward step.

“And hopefully there will be some more communication – but it wasn’t done in the [conference call] format, it was done more through a one-onone conversation with Gregor.

“As far as I know, they have been communicating back and forth, but the good thing about that is obviously there is some positive communication which will hopefully lead to a long-term positive outcome in terms of Finn’s involvement. But I think that process will be ongoing.”

There has been a fair bit of communication back and forth