Finn Russell labeled 'pathetic' as controversial clip goes viral

His lacklustre chase and failure to attempt any sort of tackle was compounded by wide angle footage that saw him inexplicably jogging back as his team-mates busted their guts to stop the French.

It's pretty embarrassing

Shane Horgan said: "That is actually pathetic for your top player, your talisman.

“Five minutes into the game. He doesn't have an injury, he's not fatigued. You look at someone like Rory Darge killing himself around the field — turning ball over, making tackles, carries, scoring a try — and then you've got your best player performing like that.

“There is no way any team can win consistently if you have players doing that. It's like what France were doing in their dark ages, but that's gone. You'd never see a Springbok doing that, you'd never see an All Black doing that.

"If Finn Russell wants to count himself as a really top player, have a look at the best players of the last 10 years. Look at the generational players like Brian O'Driscoll, Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson. They were so hard working, and that [from Russell] was pathetic."

Rugby Pass 5/10: "An erratic display, not for the first time. His aimless kick allowed Dupont space for the opening French try. A dropped ball as Scotland attack and bounced by Danty in the build-up to the visitors’ third score. On the back foot for the second half and hooked after an hour."

JOE: "Never got up in the air, at the lineout, for the Dombrandt try. Penalised for tackling Isiekwe on his lineout jump."

Rugby Pass: Set the tone for an up-and-down game when he missed an absolute sitter from in front of the posts in the opening minutes before slotting a nerve-settling conversion from wide on the left then expertly landing a 50-22. Missed a high ball completely to give Scotland a good attacking opportunity then compounded the error by conceding a penalty for a high tackle.

Rugby 365: "A day where very little went the skipper’s way. Dropped a clanger with the line at his mercy in the first half and couldn’t regather his own chip after the break. Battled gamely, but unable to drag his side back into the game.'

JOE: "Steady enough outing after being drafted in for the injured Manu Tuilagi. Kept wales honest in attack but fell off a couple of tackles, in defence."