FINN END OF THE WEDGE
Dan: Scots clubs priced out
DAN McFARLAND fears Finn Russell’s move from Glasgow to France will signal a trend of Scotland stars being lured away from the domestic game by megabucks offers.
The Scotland assistant boss wishes Russell was staying put but has no doubt he will be a superstar across the Channel.
News of Russell’s departure for France on a lucrative deal at the end of the season – almost certainly to Racing 92 – has overshadowed the build-up to the final Autumn Test against Australia.
But McFarland is adamant it won’t affect Russell’s preparations.
He said: “It’s definitely better for Scotland to have Scottish players playing in Scotland.
“In Scotland we have a good record of managing players and making sure their long-term welfare is looked after so they can represent their country and their clubs.
“That’s been done well but if they are not under your control you can’t do that. The marketplace is difficult for any club that is not French.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are in Scotland, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa – they all face the same market.”
McFarland has no doubt Russell will keep improving.
He said: “Finn will definitely continue to grow. He’s eager to learn and is lucky to have had terrific coaches to work with at Glasgow.
“You sometimes don’t expect your 10s to be good in contact but Finn is very good.
“I look after the contact and sometimes think ‘Who was that?’ It’s Finn clearing breakdowns. It’s special to do that well as a No.10.”
McFarland insisted Russell’s eyes will be firmly on the ball against the Aussies at Murrayfield on Saturday and added: “There is no danger of Finn being distracted this weekend.
“He’s playing for Scotland. He wants to be the best. He is a world-class fly-half and when we played in Australia he was the stand-out player.”
Russell is believed to be heading for Racing 92 on a £450,000-per-year deal to replace All Blacks legend Dan Carter.
Russell’s Glasgow colleague Jamie Bhatti said: “I’ll miss my pal but he deserves it. He is world class and going on to bigger and better things.”
Zander Fagerson and Alex Dunbar are undergoing concussion tests ahead of the Aussie game.
But scans showed Luke Hamilton, carried off against the All Blacks with an ankle injury, has not suffered a fracture. Fraser Brown and Sean Maitland are added to the squad.