Lions roar for Russell

FINN Russell and Allan Dell managed to put to one side reports they were both set for call-ups to the British and Irish Lions squad in New Zealand and star in Scotland’s magnificent victory at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Russell, in particular, sparkled for Gregor Townsend’s side.

Russell, who was unlucky not to be included in the original selection, said yesterday he was determined to make his mark.

“Nobody wants to go on tour to make up the numbers,” he insisted. “Everyone’s going there to push for positions. There are three stand-offs out there just now so it’s obviously tough, but I’ll go there, get up to speed as quickly as possible and take it from there.

“I’ll have to go and learn the gameplan as quickly as possible and try to get up to speed. It will be tough coming in straight away, so I won’t be looking too far ahead. I’ll be preparing myself for the job I have to do when I get there.”

The reports had been circulating since late on Friday night that Warren Gatland was going to raid the Scotland and Wales touring parties so he had enough players to compete the roster for the two remaining midweek games without having to risk his Test squad.

Though Russell was an obvious candidate after a solid RBS 6 Nations, you would have had to go a long, long way to find anybody expecting Dell to be the other call-up. Even he confessed he was shocked to be in that sort of company less than a year after winning his first cap.

“I only heard when we were driving back from the game against Australia on the bus,” he said. “I don’t know what to say. It’s fantastic. I’m so happy, I really don’t know what to say.”

There was criticism of some of Gatland’s picks yesterday but Dell ignored the furore and said he too is determined to make the most of the unexpected chance.

“I knew there were rumours but you can’t pay any attention to them until if is official,” he said. “You don’t want to let anything distract you.”