WE’VE WIPED THE SLATE CLEAN
Toony and Finn raring to go
FINN RUSSELL will hit the half-century after wiping the slate clean with Scotland boss Gregor Townsend.
The playmaker is set to earn his 50th cap nine months late when he lines up in the autumn Test opener against Georgia at Murrayfield a week on Friday.
Townsend yesterday picked Russell for the first time since the t pair had a major fall-out sparked s by a booze curb breach in the build-up to this year’s unfinished u Six Nations.
The coach admitted he had made m mistakes in dealing with the t episode.
Toony said: “I’ve certainly reflected r on the events and what w I could have done better with Finn and in my role. I’ve had plenty of time to learn off others during that period. You learn from your experiences.
“As a coach you make lots of mistakes throughout the season, so it has been a time to put all of that into the memory banks and make sure you become better for the experience.”
Toony added: “Finn and I had conversations towards the end of the main Six Nations period and they have carried on all the way through the summer. He has been really keen to come back and play for us.
“That’s a real positive for everyone and we are looking forward to working with him.”
Townsend has picked three uncapped men – with Glasgow prop Oli Kebble and Edinburgh speed merchant Duhan van der Merwe poised to become the Test stage’s latest “Jock-Boks” having qualified on residency ground following their move from South Africa.
The other new face in the squad is Harlequins scrum-half Scott Steele.