Even after all these years and dazzling feats, it feels as if Finn Russell is still having to prove himself and justify the hype. Well, given what happened at Twickenham on Saturday, that can stop now.
Bath are champions and their iconic No 10 deserves to shed the doubts that have always stalked him throughout his career. He didn’t freeze. He didn’t choke. He delivered telling moments of class and X-factor brilliance, yet again. The 32-year-old has earned his glory and a right to go on the Lions tour as the man trusted to orchestrate a series-winning campaign.
It beggars belief that it has taken so long for such a generational talent to be universally admired for his vast creative repertoire and not damned as more of a liability than an asset.
The reaction to Russell has often betrayed a problem in professional rugby, as coaches, pundits and public alike focus excessively on what someone can’t do or does wrong, rather than all their myriad strengths.
One dropped pass, wayward kick and missed tackle has all too often led to Russell being decried as too erratic and error-prone to be capable of delivering when it most matters.
But it mattered quite a lot as Bath were striving to win the league for the first time in 29 years and their Scottish recruit at fly-half was perfectly equipped to handle the accompanying burden of expectation.
Finn Russell lead Bath to glory in Saturday’s Premiership final against Leicester at Twickenham
The Scot kicked three penalties and set up Max Ojomoh to score in his side’s 23-21 victory
Russell, ever the showman, didn’t have any problems in dealing with taunts from the Leicester fans
To an extent, he understands the sceptics. Russell admitted that he needed to win something of substance.
After ticking that box, he said: ‘I have not won much in my career. The last time I won a title like this was 10 years ago. When folk started saying that, it plays on your mind and you’re thinking, “I really need to start winning stuff’. Winning the Challenge Cup was amazing, but the Prem was the goal.’
Looking ahead to his next, high-profile assignment, Russell added: ‘When you get to the Lions, it is another level of intensity. It is the best of the best from Britain and Ireland. I am looking forward to the challenge.
‘Everyone is fighting for Test spots, but it is not just getting in the Tests, it is winning them as well. Every training session and every game you play before that counts.’
He will fly Down Under as favourite to wear the No 10 shirt in the Test series in the Wallabies and Russell has more than earned that status, despite the assurance of Fin Smith as England’s new master conductor.
The 32-year-old Scot not only proved his title-winning credentials against Leicester, he also showed a selflessness and confidence in the way he threw a long assist pass to Max Ojomoh, so his home-town team-mate could have the honour of a try-scoring contribution.
Such a willingness to prioritise the collective and others over himself will surely resonate with Andy Farrell.
Another striking aspect of Russell’s appearance at Twickenham was the evident enjoyment. For Finn, it is always fun. There was the hand cupped to his ear when targeted by Tigers fans, the constant smiling and joking, and the relaxed demeanour when the epic deed was done.
Russell has only one Lions cap to his name but will surely add to that haul over the coming weeks in Australia
The Scot is in pole position to start at fly-half during the tour despite heavy competition
That was a throw-back to 2021, when he came on as an early replacement for the Lions in the last Test and gave the Springboks an almighty fright with his instinctive, daring artistry.
Russell was so laid-back at the prospect of being thrust into the decider – chewing gum and doing keep-em-ups – and the free-spirited way he played struck a chord with this observer at the Cape Town Stadium.
In the aftermath of that match, which the Boks won 19-16, I wrote: ‘Finn Russell’s brilliance showed what might have been. Scotland’s audacious playmaker liberated the tourists and re-engaged a public weary of negativity.
‘What happened at Cape Town Stadium should serve as a lesson to the Lions and to the sport. It should be a jolt to cautious coaches and a spark of hope for players who crave the licence to play with freedom.
‘On the grandest stage, Russell made a mockery of the stifling view that Test rugby has to be about rigid structure and percentages. It was not about entertaining – although it achieved that purpose too – it was about trying to win a marquee match by bursting out of a straight-jacket.
‘The Lions lost, but unleashed a player who struck a blow for positivity. Russell showed that he and others like him are worth gambling on. The magicians should be trusted to do more good than harm.’
Four years later, that argument still applies. Bath, Scotland and the Lions are blessed to have a rare genius at their disposal and everyone who cares about not just those teams but the game as a whole should savour Russell’s supreme conjurer’s feats while they have the chance. Ignore the odd lapse.
Trust him to guide the Lions to a series victory – and trust him to act as a beacon for his sport in the process.
Lions head coach Andy Farrell should be brave and trust Russell to guide his side to a famous series win
England’s new new openside sensation
English rugby is still buzzing about the emergence of a new openside sensation and along comes another one.
Henry Pollock has already earned himself a Test debut and a Lions call-up, now Guy Pepper is on his tail.
It was a pity for Bath’s 22-year-old flanker that his try at Twickenham was ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up, as it was quite some act of power running.
Despite being denied that prized moment, Pepper ended up with a Man of the Match medal again, just as he had done in the semi-final win over Bristol. He has been a stand-out figure at the breakdown, in an increasingly crowded field.
Even within the same marquee match, Pepper had to concede some ground later to another impressive new openside, Leicester’s Emeka Ilione, who thundered through three defenders to score.
At this rate, the meticulous Steve Borthwick is going to need a separate spreadsheet on his laptop, just to keep tabs on all his potential No 7s.
What was a problem position not so long ago is now an embarrassment of riches for the head coach. Tom Curry, Ben Earl and Pollock are with the Lions, Ben Curry is established with England, Pepper and Ilione are pushing for honours, Sam Underhill is recovering from injury, while Jack Willis and Lewis Ludlam are in exile, and Quins pair Jack Kenningham and Will Evans are struggling to get a look-in. Astonishing.
If England keep churning out openside talent at this remarkable rate, other countries are going to start trying to poach them.
Henry Pollock announced himself on the international stage with some dazzling displays during the Six Nations
Bath’s Guy Pepper was named Man of the Match after Saturday’s Premiership final win over Leicester Tigers
Emeka Ilione also caught the eye at Twickenham on Saturday
Premiership make interesting rebranding call
The Premiership have followed the example of the Six Nations, by deciding that orange lettering and a funky font is the way to successfully rebrand themselves.
They’ve also opted to shorten their name to just ‘Prem’ – suggesting they’ve ignored all the evidence that Sevens becoming ‘Svns’ was not a marketing master-stroke; quite the opposite in fact.
This is all part of the desperate quest to seize a younger fanbase, but these don’t come across as breakthrough measures, unless properly, widely promoted.
Rugby needs as many eyeballs as possible on grand occasions such as the Premiership Final, which showcased the best of the game in this country. If more saw that, they’d want a piece of the action.
There is so much talk about growth, but people need to be far more aware of an often hidden product. That’s the fundamental point, as outlined by the retiring Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, who told Mail Sport about the importance of free-to-air coverage.
It was so sad to see Cole in tears after being sin-binned to spoil his farewell appearance. The decision to show him a yellow care felt harsh, in the circumstances or not. He was in mid-air when the ball kicked was kicked by Russell. It was too late for evasive action.
Sure, Cole’s body had turned slightly side-on, but that is a natural instinct; rather than facing the path of the ball. There was no malice and a fine career shouldn’t have ended like that.
Dan Cole made his 343rd and final appearance for Leicester on Saturday
The former England prop’s career ended on a sour note after he was shown a yellow card late on
Farrell’s return makes a whole lot of sense
Owen Farrell’s return to Saracens as player-coach makes a whole load of sense. Frankly, he’s been fulfilling that sort of role for years already.
A safe prediction is that the veteran playmaker will be a damn sight better at helping his club nurture a new generation of talent than he will be acting as a Sky Sports pundit for the Lions v Argentina game on Friday.
Don’t expect any bold statements or no-holds-barred verdicts or insight from someone who will be hoping to end up in the famous red shirt again in the coming weeks.
Farrell’s rapid return to the Premiership will generate speculation about the possibility of an England recall, but that would come across as a retrograde step, as the national team have evolved so much since his last Test appearances at the 2023 World Cup.
The former captain will be 34 in September and will turn 36 during the next World Cup. That ship has sailed now.
Steve Borthwick would be better off trusting George Ford to provide strategic direction and leadership – and become a Test centurion – on the summer tour of Argentina and USA, before the Smiths return for England duty in the autumn, to restore a high-class, competitive trio of No 10 contenders.
There is every chance of Owen Farrell donning a red rose again one day soon, but as a mentor or coach, rather than as a player.
Owen Farrell is returning to England after just one year in France with Racing 92
The former England captain is joining former club Saracens in a player-coach role
George Ford should be the man Steve Borthwick picks to captain England on their summer tour of Argentina and USA
Use it or lose it
The Lions will face Argentina’s reserves in Dublin and, frankly, there isn’t a huge amount to be gained for head coach Andy Farrell, given that almost half of his squad are likely to be deemed unavailable for selection.
This column is not sold on the blatantly commercial nature of these pre-tour matches, with the proven risks attached to putting players in the line of fire just before flying south
Even if those on duty avoid the untimely medical setbacks suffered by Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric against Japan four years ago, all those who play will travel to the other side of the world bashed-up.
And if the primary objective is to raise vital funds, why is the game against the Pumas – which the Lions say ‘could have sold out five times over’ – not being played at Twickenham, which can accommodate 31,000 more fans than the Aviva Stadium?
Meanwhile, none of the fixtures in Australia, including the three Tests, are sold out yet and visiting fans have been limited to buying tickets as part of expensive travel packages.
Surely a ‘use it or lose it’ principle should apply now. If the Australian public haven’t bought all available tickets, it makes sense to let supporters in Britain and Ireland have the chance to create a last-minute surge of sales, to ensure every game is played in front of packed stands – truly reflecting the rare grandeur of the occasions.
Bath deserve a worthy home
Bath’s first league title for 29 years and their historic Treble have thrust the club right back to the summit of English rugby, so now more than ever they urgently need a home worthy of their revived status.
Bath have played at The Rec since 1894 having previously played at other sites in the city
The facilities at The Rec are not up to scratch in comparison to other top Premiership clubs
A dominant era beckons, so all that’s missing is a ground fit for Johann van Graan’s stellar squad and their burgeoning trophy collection.
The surroundings at The Rec are breathtaking but the venue itself is an unsuitably cramped, flat-pack jumble of inadequate facilities. Tiny changing-rooms, not enough toilets, awkward access, regular pitch problems and too many uncovered seats.
A vital rebuild is long overdue, for a place which would fail any version of the Minimum Standards Criteria, if Bath were seeking Premiership entry now.
For teams, officials, media and spectators, The Rec is utterly unfit for purpose, whatever the dazzling backdrop all around.
Next season, the target for Van Graan should be a proper tilt at the Champions Cup, while the target for the Bath hierarchy should be finally gaining full clearance for redevelopment work to begin.
The recent endorsement by UNESCO is a boost, after new plans were submitted for public consultation earlier this year, but as ever the wheels turn slowly.
Also, site restrictions mean the new ground’s capacity would be limited to just 18,000, which surely isn’t big enough to capitalise on a new golden age in the West Country city. But the key is to strike while the iron is hot and it is red-hot right now.
