Russell back for Scotland

Finn Russell has been handed an international reprieve, called up to Scotland’s squad ahead of their test against the All Blacks in Edinburgh on Monday (NZ time). The mercurial 62-test first five-eighth was a contentious omission from Scotland’s original squad for their end-of-year internationals to fuel talk of a breakdown in his relationship with coach Gregor Townsend, who said his decision was based on the player’s ‘‘form and consistency’’. Russell, 30, who spent time in Christchurch at the Canterbury Rugby Football Union’s International High Performance Unit, has been summoned after fellow No 10 Adam Hastings sustained a head injury during the 28-12 win over Fiji on Sunday.