Russell hails Cotter
FINN RUSSELL last night admitted he was ‘disappointed’ Vern Cotter had stepped down as Scotland coach and that the strong bond they had which started in the heat of Houston, Texas, three-and-a-half years ago was being finally broken.
The Kiwi’s reign came to an end under heavy skies at Murrayfield yesterday with the Scotland fly-half delighted to send him off in style with an emphatic win over Italy.
Russell was instrumental in a game he controlled from first whistle to last, scoring a try and converting three of Scotland’s four touchdowns as they ended their Six Nations campaign in style. His score came when he was put in at the corner thanks to a fantastic team move and a quick pass from Ali Price. It was the first try for Scotland and, although it took half an hour to come, it was just reward for all their pressure.
Signing off with a try in Cotter’s last game was a perfect way for Russell to thank the man who, in his first match as Scotland head coach against the USA in 2014, handed Russell his international debut.
Ever since, the fly-half has been one of his most trusted lieutenants, playing in 27 of the 36 games Cotter had been in charge.
He has never been dropped, only missing the other internationals either because he had been rested or injured.
Russell said: ‘A few of us have only been with Vern for Scotland stuff and we had it in the back of our minds that he was leaving us before
the game.’ The fly-half paid tribute to the man who had done so much for his career and revealed he was desperate for an emphatic win over Italy to make sure Cotter’s final game in charge would be one to remember for all the right reasons.
‘The sort of coach and the man he is, we have so much respect for him that it was a good game to send him off by winning so well as he has done a great job’ he said.
‘He gave me my first cap and, working with him since, the main thing for me is he’s all about the team, always thinking about the team ethic.
‘The way he goes about things is pretty different to the other coaches I’ve had.
‘He’s always asking more from the players and although he seems quite stern at times he’s pretty relaxed off the field.
‘On the training pitch, he is pretty full-on but he gets the best out of the boys.
‘Off the field, he has got a good relationship with everyone.’
Russell said the way his side had bounced back after the 61-21 mauling at the hands of England at Twickenham was an example of the mental strength instilled in them all by Cotter, and the way he had prepared them perfectly for the Italy match.
‘It was certainly a very good way for Vern to finish,’ said the Scotland fly-half.
‘We knew we had to try to get a bonus point today to help us in the competition and it was good to get that — and to nil them was pretty special as well.
‘So, it is a good way to finish off.
‘Vern didn’t make this week about him at all, it was all about the team and that’s what he made us feel as well, that we were all together.
‘It was good going out there and sending him off as well as we could have.
‘We’ve grown so much in the last three years under him and, although the coaches are changing, I’d imagine the team will stay the same as he leaves behind a good core of players.
‘The last game against England was frustrating, we knew it wasn’t our best performance and we had to bounce back.
‘That is what we did and that was a good way for us to end the Six Nations and Vern’s time in charge.’