Russell must become ‘trusted’ to earn recall, says Scotland coach Townsend

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend reinstated his stand, asserting that the door were ajar for Finn Russell return to international fold subject to his commitment and behavior.

Townsend dropped Russell for the opening two matches of the Six Nations due to a breach of a code of conduct on the eve of the tournament opener. Scotland went on to lose both the games against Ireland and England.

In a revealing interview with the Sunday Times newspaper this weekend, seemingly given without approval by the Scottish Rugby Union, Russell spoke about his poor relationship with Townsend and seemed to put forward a “him or me” ultimatum.

Townsend took the unusual step of responding to Russell’s interview in a lengthy statement on Monday, in which the coach said the flyhalf dropped below the “agreed standard of behavior” and that “things have not unfolded as well as we would have hoped.”

It appears Townsend has no immediate plans to recall Russell, with Scotland’s next match in the Six Nations away to Italy in two weeks.

“The door will be open to any player with the required level of ability,” Townsend said, “if they commit to being a trusted member of the team. It’s been made clear that Finn could be a part of that future.

“However, he stated at the weekend that everything else has to change for him to come back, rather than accept and adhere to the standards currently being lived by the group.”

Townsend said he wanted the situation to be resolved, before adding: “Our focus is on working with the squad and building on the positive work that’s gone in from the players for our first two games.”

Russell said in the interview that his grievances with Townsend aren’t new. The pair argued during last year’s Six Nations, he said, and have clashed over Scotland’s style of play, with Russell preferring a less structured approach.

Russell acknowledged he had more beers than the agreed limit when the squad met up a week before the Six Nations. He left the camp and missed a team meeting the following morning. That night, despite a clear-the-air conversation with Townsend, Russell was told he would not be considered for the Ireland match in Dublin for breach of team protocol.

He has since returned to his club side Racing 92 in France.

“To play for Scotland takes total commitment,” Townsend said.

In a further setback to what is proving a miserable Six Nations campaign for the Scots, lock Jonny Gray was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament because of a hand injury on Monday.

Gray was hurt during the 13-6 loss to England on Saturday and is returning to his club, Glasgow Warriors, for treatment. The Italy-Scotland match in Rome on Feb. 22 is shaping up to be one that will determine which team finishes in last place.

Meanwhile, Scotland will be without Jonny Gray for the rest of the Six Nations championship after the lock sustained a hand injury in Saturday’s 13-6 defeat to England, the Scottish Rugby Union announced on Monday.

Gray, who won his 57th cap at the weekend, is another big loss to Gregor Townsend’s men, who have been without influential fly-half Finn Russell for the opening two rounds of the championship.

Russell’s international future is in doubt after he revealed a breakdown in relations with Townsend.

The Scotland coach is badly in need of a result when his side travel to face Italy on February 22 after back-to-back defeats to start the Six Nations.

Agencies