Finn: I’m no shoo-in forwelsh showdown
Comeback star Finn Russell insists he will not be an automatic pick for Scotland’s final Six Nations showdown with Wales.
The mercurial playmaker returned to Test action with a cameo display off the bench as Gregor Townsend’s troops warmed up for Saturday’s trip to Llanelli with a 48- 7 demolition job on Georgia at Murrayfield.
It was quality rather than quantity for Russell, who – according to the coach – added “fizz” to the attack.
However, Russell declared: “It was just good to be back with the lads.
“I wasn’t tr ying to show anything or do too much. I just went out there and played my game.
“It is not for me to decide who plays. I just went out there and had some fun. That’s why you saw me smiling.
“It is a team game and I’m going to support everyone as much as possible.”
Russell’s return came after he healed his rift with Townsend and he earned his 50th cap in the process.
He added: “We had a presentation in the changing room afterwards for the guys winning their first caps, and me for my 50th.
“It is an amazing achievement for me, but it wasn’t in the forefront of my mind in the build-up. It was a case of getting prepared for the match, play in it and then e n j oy the moment afterwards.”
The highlight of Russell’s p e r f o r ma n c e w a s cleverly slipping the inside pass for winger Duhan van der Merwe to notch a try on his debut.
Finn said: “For me it was great to see him working off his wing and getting beside me.
“After the game I just said to him ‘If I’m at 10, make sure you’re on the inside there – I’ll put you in for a few tries!’”
And the coach was equally impressed by the Edinburgh winger’s try.
Townsend said: “We hoped that Duhan would score.
“We looked at our back t h re e and t h o u g ht th a t if they could get on the ball, there would be chances of tries there.
“It was hard for them in the first half when Georgia defended very well in the wide channels, but they did the right jobs, making sure they stayed infield and set up rucks to give us another phase to attack off.
“It was good work rate from Duhan for his try, to get on an inside ball.
“You’ve got to credit the work of Finn, realising the space was there, but also for the winger to be there for the pass.
“It was also great to see Darcy Graham going over twice. He went through an emotional period seven, eight months ago when he got injured at training and missed that chance to play for Scotland.
“He’s been working hard at Edinburgh, playing really well, and it was good to see him get a lot of involvements on Friday night before he popped up for another try at the end.”