Russell to help Scots with insider knowledge

Finn Russell will play a part in preparations for this week’s crunch Six Nations match with Grand Slamchasing France but only in an advisory role.

In a baffling turn of events, The Scotsman understands that star stand-off Russell does have a future at international level but won’t be involved for the remainder of the championship following his banishment from the squad before the tournament started.

However the 27-year-old, pictured, will help the team to prepare for Sunday’s clash with the French by phoning into a conference call with the Scotland coaching team to provide his insights on the opposition from his time playing in Paris for Racing 92.

Russell left the Scotland team hotel two weeks before the opening Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin after what has been described as a breach of team protocol.

He has since spoken to a Sunday newspaper and level led criticism at the Scotland management set-up under Gregor Townsend, his former club coach at Glasgow Warriors.

The Scotsman understands that positive dialogue has been had

between Townsend and Russell but the stand-off won’t be involved for the final two fixtures of the championship at home to France and away to Wales.

Townsend’ s future as scotland coach could be in jeopardy itself if both of those encounters end badly but it is believed he sees Russell, who has 49 caps, as having a future with the national team heading towards the summer tour of South Africa and New Zealand.

“We will see. It is not something I have thought about since the end of the game,” said Townsend when asked about the Russell situation following last Saturday’s 17-0 win over Italy in Rome.

“We had two weeks training, and cohesion was very important in our selection this week.”

Townsend will work with a 37-man squad ahead of Sunday’s scheduled clash with table-topping France, Edinburgh lock forward Lewis Carmichael coming in for Worcester back-rower Cornell Du Preez.

The 24-year-old Carmichael has impressed for the Guinness Pro14 Conference B leaders since his return last year from a season-long injury layoff.

And he will now aim to add to the two caps – which included a try-scoring debut – that he earned on the 2018 summer tour of north and south America.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that Edinburgh clubmate and wing Darcy Graham will play no further part in the tournament following the knee injury he sustained at the start of the campaign.