Keep calm… /and beat France
Experienced scrum-half Greig Laid law will aim to be a calming influence on key stand off Finn Russell in Scotland’ s must-win Six Nations match against France at BT Murrayfield tomorrow, writes
Duncan Smith.
Laidlaw, 32, has been brought back into the starting line-up for the crunch game in what will be his 60th cap and it is hoped he can bring out a better performance from the attacking linchpin, who misfired in last weekend’s 34-7 ravaging by Wales in Cardiff.
“I will be saying this is Testmatch rugby. Finn understands that as well,” said former captain Laidlaw, who came off the bench against Wales but hasn’t started for Scotland since this time last year through injuries and a summer with the Lions.
“He gets excitable and I love that side of him. He wants to always attack. I will be encouraging him to pick his head up, see what is in front of him. I will just be keeping tabs on him. Make sure he is not getting too excited.”
Russell is key to Scotland’s hopes of imposing a fast, attacking style and will be aiming for a much-improved display against the nation he will be playing his rugby in next season when he joins Racing 92.
Laidlaw has replaced Russell’s Glasgow team-mate, Ali Price, who also endured a trying afternoon in the Welsh capital, and insisted that Scotland will stick to their high-tempo principles tomorrow, but must show more composure and match intelligence.
“It [the gameplan] can be misleading. We don’t want it to be frantic,” said the man who now plays his club rugby in France with Clermont Auvergne. “We want to play disciplined rugby that is also quick rugby. At times we got away from that last weekend there is no denying that.
“In international rugby, at Test level you have to understand the ebbs and the flows of the game. The times you are going you have to keep going, keep going, keep hammering them.
“There will be a time in the game on Sunday when we will be under the pump that is for sure. We are playing against a good side here and we will have to grab the game and maybe slow it down maybe just for a couple of minutes to get a handle. Or a couple of direct plays to settle the nerves, give everybody a touch of the ball. We have a good plan and if we can execute it I think we can win.”