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Finn Russell is braced for a potentially bruising reunion with his Scottish international teammates but is intent on winning the “bragging rights” when Bath host Edinburgh on Friday in their Champions Cup pool decider. Russell has already messaged Duhan van der Merwe to warn him to expect a tough night and says the English champions are seeking to sharpen their attacking game in pursuit of a crucial home draw for the knockout phase.
With the victorious side at the Rec set to top pool 2, the Scottish playmaker is anticipating a physical examination from an Edinburgh team he knows extremely well. “I’d imagine there’ll be a couple of late shots and being held on the ground which is always the case when you’re against your old side,” said Russell, who spent the first half of his professional career at Glasgow.
“I’m not sure what the weather will be like but if it’s like it is now there’ll be a lot of balls going up in the air. I’ve already texted Duhan to tell him to be ready.
“It’s good fun running into boys you know but there’s always bragging rights with the Six Nations coming up. If they win or we win we’ll wind each other up. Hopefully we’ll get the win on Friday night. If not it’ll be quite a rough [Six Nations] camp. Edinburgh will be coming down with everything to play for.”
Russell also revealed Bath are seeking to step their game up another gear after high-scoring defeats against Toulon and Northampton either side of Christmas. The loss of the popular attack coach Lee Blackett to England has also prompted some readjustments under his replacement, Martin Gleeson. “Since the November Tests we’ve spoken more about playing more expansively like we used to do last year and the year before,” Russell said.
“Lee and Glees have different views about how we can run an attack shape so we’ve been figuring out how we can adjust and what works best for people. In the last few games we’ve gone slightly wider off 10. We have probably had more joy with that, focusing a little bit more on multi-phase and trying to take teams apart like that.”
Edinburgh, even so, can still expect a daunting challenge up front. “With the forwards we’ve got why wouldn’t you use pick and go’s,” Russell said. “They’re so good at that. Its definitely a strength of ours but as backs we’re looking to try and be more expansive as well. It’s about getting the balance right.”
Bath’s head coach, Johann van Graan, meanwhile, feels Russell and his entire side are attracting more scrutiny after winning three titles last season. “If you are a player with Finn’s talent, sometimes an 8/10 performance isn’t good enough for some people. I’m certainly very happy with Finn’s form and his influence on the group.
“Having won three trophies we’ve had a target on our backs since round one. It’s a different kind of pressure. Certain teams are throwing different things at us but that’s something we embrace. The moment you stand still in sport is the moment you fall off it.”
Gloucester’s efforts to reinforce their pack for next season are continuing with the Springbok lock Jean Kleyn agreeing to join the club from Munster this summer. Scarlets, meanwhile, have appointed the former Wales coach Nigel Davies as their interim director of rugby with immediate effect.
