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The selection subplot to Finn Russell getting axed by Scotland
Undoubtedly the biggest selection story ahead of the finale of the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday weekend has been the axing of Finn Russell.
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The Racing 92 star has been dropped by Scotland and Blair Kinghorn handed the flyhalf duties for Saturday’s Test at Lansdowne Road. Kinghorn’s 30 Scotland caps include only one start at flyhalf, last November against Tonga.
Russell’s axing is a surprise as he’s been a Scotland mainstay for most of the last eight years while accumulating 62 caps and a British and Irish Lions tour last year.
But the mercurial no.10 has been off his game in the championship, and coach Gregor Townsend has finally pulled the trigger for the last round.
Scotland have defeated England and Italy but were well beaten by Wales and France. Russell started all four matches without excelling and was sin-binned in the Wales game.
Kinghorn has played Test rugby mostly as a wing or fullback, and appeared in this championship as a replacement against Wales and France.
“Off the bench … we thought he performed well,” Townsend said on Thursday about Kinghorn without addressing Russell.
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While the dropping of Russell came as a surprise, the selection of Kinghorn ahead of Gloucester’s Adam Hasting was a major talking point on social media. Hastings was the heir apparent in over last two seasons, but now looks to have become Townsend’s third choice.
“Gregor Townsend puts a lot of stock in “credit in the bank” in terms of selection for Scotland. Adam Hastings stepped up really well amidst ‘FinnGate’ in 2020 and hasn’t done a huge amount wrong since. Why is he now 3rd choice 10?,” wrote Andy Burke of BBC Scotland. “Should go without saying but I’ll say it anyway. I hope Blair Kinghorn has a stormer at the Aviva and we’re all left in no doubt Scotland has another quality option at 10. Huge game for him.”
Gregor Townsend puts a lot of stock in “credit in the bank” in terms of selection for Scotland. Adam Hastings stepped up really well amidst ‘FinnGate’ in 2020 and hasn’t done a huge amount wrong since. Why is he now 3rd choice 10?
— Andy Burke (@AndyBurke_) March 17, 2022
“Blair Kinghorn didn’t come off the bench against England, played the last 10 against Wales and the last 20 against France when the game was already done,” wrote BBC Chief news editor Tom English. “Thirty minutes the whole championship and a start against Tonga in the autumn. In you go against Ireland son, no pressure.”
Blair Kinghorn didn't come off the bench against England, played the last 10 against Wales and the last 20 against France when the game was already done. Thirty minutes the whole championship and a start against Tonga in the autumn. In you go against Ireland son, no pressure
— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) March 17, 2022
Popular Scottish podcast Thistle Scottish Rugby Podcast wrote: “Plenty to ponder around the selection of Kinghorn for Sat, and question marks around whether he is a 10 or not. But calling him a bad to average club player is very wide of the mark.”
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Plenty to ponder around the selection of Kinghorn for Sat, and question marks around whether he is a 10 or not. But calling him a bad to average club player is very wide of the mark #realtalk
— Thistle Scottish Rugby Podcast (@thistlerugbypod) March 17, 2022
“It’s odd because Adam Hastings is such a good 10. I could understand if GT wanted to improve depth but you also have Ross Thompson (who is a natural 10). By this logic he should be starting and not BK.”
It’s odd because Adam Hastings is such a good 10. I could understand if GT wanted to improve depth but you also have Ross Thompson (who is a natural 10). By this logic he should be starting and not BK. ?????
— Martin MacDonald (@martinmacd90) March 17, 2022
One fan wrote: “If Kinghorn “deserves his chance with his performances through the season” has Townsend not been watching Adam Hastings down at Gloucester then?… like most of our games this 6 Nations, the plot has been well and truly lost.”
https://twitter.com/neil_macd_v3/status/1504471910540726273
“Toony does know Adam Hastings still exists, right?,” wrote another.
Toony does know Adam Hastings still exists, right?
— Kenny Stewart (@Kenny__Stewart) March 17, 2022
When a full back starts at 10 against Ireland, and you wonder what Adam Hastings has done… #scotlandrugby #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/ccIqAXlXZH
— The Rugby Pastor (@RugbyPastor) March 17, 2022
Lock Jonny Gray has returned for the Scots after missing the last two games with a head injury to replace Sam Skinner in the only other change to the starting XV which beat Italy 33-22 last weekend in Rome.
Ireland are going for a first triple crown since 2018 and are still hoping to claim the Six Nations crown later should England beat France in Paris.
– additional reporting AAP
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments