Scotland captain Finn Russell didn’t hold back with his assessment of his teammates after his side held out despite a stunning second-half comeback from Wales.
RUCK’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations content powered by ISUZU.
The Scots swiftly secured a commanding 27-0 lead within 43 minutes, courtesy of two tries by Duhan van Der Merwe, a score from Pierre Schoeman, and 12 points contributed by Finn Russell.
Despite Wales staging a remarkable second-half comeback with tries from James Botham, Rio Dyer, Aaron Wainwright, and Alex Mann, Scotland ultimately sealed the victory with a one-point advantage.
Russell in his post match interview with BBC was brutally honest, saying teammates ignored his and the coaches instructions.
He said the individual’s needed to have a look at themselves following the narrow win.
Russell began: “We’re probably a little bit disappointed, to be honest. The win is brilliant, but I think that second half was nowhere near where it needed to be.
“In the first half we played well and controlled the game. In the second half, our discipline was poor with two yellow cards, and that allowed them back into the game…
“When we scored that try early in the second half we probably got a little bit complacent, to be honest. We probably thought the game is done, but there’s still a long way to go, especially away from home…
“The frustrating thing for me was that the points I was making, they weren’t being listened to.
“One of my main ones was to leave the ruck and we kept going into the ruck. We got a yellow card for going into the ruck too many times, a yellow card for offside.
“That’s something we will have to review as a team. When we are getting messages from the coaches or from the players, we need to listen to it.
“If the message is ‘leave the ball’ and we are still going for it, then the individuals that are going for it need to look at they’re game and that they’re putting us under pressure.
“One fan wrote: “Great post match comments. You’ve really matured into a first class captain.”
SOCIAL REACTION:
A second commented: “A refreshingly honest and enlightening post-match interview with Finn Russell, not only an asset on pitch.”
Another said: Telling, and absolutely correct, post-match interview from Finn Russell. Incredible lack of discipline and streetsmarts in that mad second half. Infringement flow will make for grim reading.”
FULL INTERVIEW:
PARTNERS LINKS:
- Win a dream trip worth £3,000 to mark the anticipated Guinness Six Nations tournament
- Win a limited edition mini power bank
- RUGBY BROUGHT TO YOU BY ISUZU D-MAX
- Join RUCK’s Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community
SCRACHCARD QUIZ:
Five players who flopped in the opening round: 2024 Six Nations
We take a look at five players who failed to perform in the opening round of the 2024 Six Nations.
#1. Paul Willemse (France)
Rugby Pass 1/10: “Got one point for running onto the pitch because after that it was a disaster for the lock forward. Lucky to get a yellow for his hit on Andrew Porter, he didn’t learn his lesson after 10 minutes contemplation and another hit to the head of an opponent, he left the referee with no option but to end his contest. Dumb.”
Planet Rugby 2/10: ““How do you want us to tackle?” were the words the second-rower asked before being issued his second yellow card and subsequent red. The answer is simple: lower Paul, lower.”
Telegraph 1/10: “The first hit was silly enough but to commit exactly the same offence six minutes after returning to the field, after a get-out-jail-free card, bordered on lunacy. France’s hopes of victory departed with him.”