Russell opens up on kicking woes
SPOTLIGHT: Scotland playmaker Finn Russell is adamant criticism from outside counts for little as he looks to bounce back from his Calcutta Cup heartache in Saturday’s Six Nations clash at home to Wales.
The 32-year-old flyhalf missed all three of his conversion attempts as Scotland, who outscored England three tries to one, suffered an agonising 15-16 loss at Twickenham last time out.
Russell’s problems off the kicking tee inevitably became a talking point after Scotland’s run of four straight wins over its oldest rival, England ended with a defeat that left coach Gregor Townsend’s side fourth in the Six Nations table with two games to play.
The misses also led to questions over whether the Scotland co-captain should be the British and Irish Lions’ starting No.10 in Australia later this year.
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“I think that’s just part of the job, isn’t it?” the Bath flyhalf told a pre-match press conference on Friday as he faced the media for the first time since the Calcutta Cup defeat.
“When you miss a kick to win it right at the very end, that’s part of the job. That’s why you do it, to get these chances and opportunities.
“Had I got that kick, it would have been a different story. But missing it, that’s part of it and that’s how it goes.
“I’m not too stressed about what’s been said about my game. For me personally, I was looking at my game and how it was.
“As long as I’m happy with it myself, that’s all that matters.”
‘Pick me up or put me down’
Russell said the only opinions that mattered to him were from those he trusts in his inner circle, including his father Keith.
“I go back to my family and friends, and they’re the ones that either pick me up or put me down either way, depending on how it goes.
“My dad was saying, ‘unlucky with the kick, but you played really well overall.” For me, that means more than what others say.”
Russell, off target with a relatively straightforward first conversion attempt against England, had the chance to win the game at the death but missed in the 79th minute – although it became clear later on the referee had made the playmaker take the kick from two metres wider than where Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe had grounded the ball for a try.
“When things like that happen, you’ve got to trust the referee that he’s seen the right thing,” said Russell.
“Setting the ball up a metre or two wider, I should still probably make that kick.
“That’s on me. That shouldn’t really affect what I’m going through and what I’m doing. It’s just on me that kick.”
“I think for the whole tournament I’ve not really been kicking that well,” he said.
“I didn’t take one against Ireland, but I missed a couple against Italy.
“I’m not saying I’m going to get them all tomorrow, but I found my groove again the last couple of days, which has been nice.
“I think at Bath this year, since November especially, I have been kicking well and last Six Nations I kicked really well, so I wouldn’t say I’ve got a point to prove.”
