Bring free spirit Russell in from the cold
Scotland should support their ousted fly-half – players often step up following controversy
Egos will be damaged over the Finn Russell episode and it is difficult to be the first person to stand up and apologise. In this specific situation, and I do not know the ins and outs, it might be that Russell has to put his hands up. If it is his fault, he should admit he stepped out of line and own it. I am sure he will do that.
If and when he does, Gregor Townsend has to show empathy towards him. Senior players need to support him as well. Winning is the end goal and, although Adam Hastings is an exciting player, Russell gives Scotland the best chance of doing that.
Often, it feels like rugby wants everyone to have the same haircut and dress the same way. It is not a sport that is massively open to difference. I was lucky I grew up at London Wasps, which was an inclusive place under Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards.
Scotland’s camp has to feel like a home from home. Russell should not feel like he is being constantly reviewed and assessed.
Looking back, there are times when I have been in the wrong. I have been in situations where coaches have not enjoyed being challenged, perhaps out of feeling inadequate. Sometimes, the problem is how other people perceive the player. That perception can be the projection of someone else’s insecurities.
At its core, rugby is the ultimate team sport. How you make things work is wrapping your head around the different personalities and committing to a cause together. When you are young, you create a facade to survive. It works, but only up to a certain point. Then, you have to figure out who you are and what you want to be.
You go through that in the public eye as a professional sportsperson, and I have been on a search to find out who I am and what sort of man I want to be. I feel I have lived out many lives already, and I am grateful for highs and lows.
My first Six Nations in 2008 was a wild ride. I was killing it. I was 20 years old and the media was going crazy. There were calls for me to start and pressure was being put on Jonny Wilkinson, which made me feel bad
because he was someone I respected and cared about a lot.
I made my Test debut from the bench against Wales, coming on at outside centre for Mike Tindall. I was really excited and everything happened at a million miles an hour. All I really remember is a miss-pass whizzing over my head.
We went to France and I did not get on, but it was a good win for us. Then, in the Italy game, we were pretty poor. Towards the end, I attempted a chip and got charged down for their try.
After that, we had a bye week and most England players returned to their clubs. Wasps had a big game in Bath. We won 42-34 and I scored from a similar chip and chase. People had tried to give me grief, so that felt pretty good.
The Scotland game is an awful memory. We were given the Thursday off, so I drove home on the Wednesday and was in bed till about quarter past 12. I had not been drinking, but went out to deliver tickets to a friend at a nightclub. That was an error of judgment.
The next day I got a call from Brian Ashton saying I was on the front cover of the Evening Standard. Paparazzi had caught me leaving the place and editors picked the shot with my eyes half-closed.
Brian was sympathetic but needed to take a stance and drop me. He did tell me it would not affect future selection, though, and I was back in for the Ireland game.
In the build-up, Jonny and I trained at 10 and 12 because Toby Flood, our inside centre, had to sit out with an injury. It flowed so well. We complemented each other in a lot of ways. But the team had already been announced, with Flood starting. Brian even admitted he wished he had not named anything! In the end, that Ireland game worked out really well for us and for me – apart from when I swore in the post-match interview.
From the way Russell plays, it is evident he is a good decisionmaker. He will be capable of that off the field as well as on it.
People play like their personalities and he seems to be a free spirit. He just has to control it.
I hope he resolves things and does what is best for Scotland. Teammates are forgiving – everyone wants what is best for the team.
A man as talented as Russell is going to benefit Scotland and, funnily enough, players can have their best games after a controversy because they are desperate to make up for a mistake.
If that energy is harnessed in the right way and there is mutual respect in an environment where neither Russell nor Townsend are looking over their shoulder, it could be a great catalyst for Scotland before they face England.