Rennie keen to see Russell make the difference for Glasgow

Finn Russell is “as good as any I’ve seen at 10” in threatening with ball in hand and the Scotland stand-off is close to being the rounded playmaker and professional, believes Dave Rennie.

The new Glasgow head coach fields Russell for the first time in today’s home Guinness PRO14 opener against Ospreys, also giving a first look to new flanker Callum Gibbins.

Rennie’s pack is unchanged apart from the former Hurricanes openside’s inclusion while Rory Hughes starts on the wing in place of Leonardo Sarto as well as Russell taking over at 10, Peter Horne moving inside to centre to cover Sam Johnson’s absence.

Rennie did a lot of research and due diligence into what was already at Scotstoun and what he thought they needed in the 12 months up until taking up the post, and two things he found concerned both Russell and Gibbins.

“I’ve watched Finn play a lot of footie over the last 12 months and there’s a clear difference when he’s running the team,” said the coach.

“His ability to threaten and create space for others is a massive strength of his game and as good as I’ve seen from a 10.

“He’s really developing his kicking game to shape defences and he’s strong when it comes to his own defence.

“I think he’s working hard on being a real professional and to have the real clarity around the game, as he’s the one other guys look to. I’ve been really impressed with the way he plays.”

As for Gibbins, he was one of the first players Rennie targeted to come to Glasgow.

“They’ve had some good 7s here but Callum is a tremendous player, he’s got an enormous work rate and I reckon the fans are going to love him,” continued the head coach.

“He’s physical, superbly conditioned and he’s a great tackler and at the post-tackle.

“He’s also a leader. I thought it was important to bring in good men and he ticks that box, plus he’s a guy who can’t play for Scotland which is important for us from a leadership point of view when the Scotland internationals are away.”

Another who has impressed Rennie is hooker George Turner, who hardly had any game time in three years at Edinburgh but who has a big advocate in forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys.

“I reckon George was the best player on the field last week,” said Rennie.

“He was brutal in tackle and clean-outs. He’s very quick for a hooker and did a good job in the set piece.

“Jon Humphreys mentioned him to me. George was playing with London Scottish and on the fringes at Edinburgh, but Humph really rated him.

“I looked at footage and out of that we made a commitment to him. There must be some pretty good hookers at Edinburgh if he hasn’t featured for them.”

Rennie knows the challenge of a strong Ospreys team who have Sam Davies back at stand-off.

“They are a strong side and have always been competitive, and I think they will be better than they were last week, as we will,” he continued.

“What we know they will be very physical and that excites us because it is an area of the game that we really want to develop, so I think it’ll be pretty brutal.

“Winning at home is crucial. You want to create an environment that is difficult to come to and I know our guys are excited to play here.”

Warriors (vs Ospreys, Guinness PRO14, Scotstoun, today 3.15 pm, live on Sky Sports Arena: Jackson; Jones, Dunbar, Horne, Hughes; Russell, Price; Bhatti, Turner, Zander Fagerson; Swinson, Cumming; Wilson (capt), Gibbins, Ashe. Replacements: MacArthur, Kebble, Rae, Alainu’uese, Matt Fagerson, Pyrgos, Grigg, Sarto.