Scotland's failed Six Nations bid frustrating for playmaker

SPOTLIGHT: Scotland co-captain Finn Russell said Friday it was tough to accept the team were yet again out of Six Nations title contention heading into the closing stages of the championship.

The Scots have never finished higher than third since winning the last Five Nations in 1999, and successive defeats by Ireland, the reigning champions, and England have put paid to their hopes of title glory this season with two games left to play.

Scotland’s 15-16 loss at Twickenham a fortnight ago was especially agonising as they outscored England three tries to one, only for Russell to miss all three conversion attempts.

Russell, speaking ahead of Saturday’s fourth-round clash at home to Wales, said that was an example of the “small margins” costing Scotland dear, with the flyhalf also citing a disallowed try against France last year.

The article continues below…

“I look at last year when we weren’t given that try against France, that put us out of title contention and then against England the other week… it’s such small margins at this level,” Russell told reporters.

“As a team, we need to get better. It sounds simple, doesn’t it?

“When we do get chances, we need to take them and have that ruthless edge that a lot of people talk about, but it’s tough to actually do.”

The Bath No.10 added: “I’ve been here quite a few times now and it’s the same kind of story.

“It’s tough, it’s slipped away now so the best thing we can do is have a good game this weekend against Wales, hopefully get the result, then go to France and hopefully get the result over there.

“I know it’s tough that we can’t win the tournament now, but we’ve still got to finish this on a high leading into the summer, then next year’s Six Nations.

“When we can’t win the tournament, we have to then try to build and learn from what we’ve done in the last few games.

“I don’t know the answers. If I did, we’d probably not be in this situation.”