SM
Everton vs. Liverpool: 22 hrs 2 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Scotland

Autumn Internationals | Autumn Internationals 2019
Aug 31, 2019 at 5pm UK
 
Georgia
10-44
Scotland
FT
Toolis (14'), Hutchinson (19', 47'), Graham (63'), Cummings (73')

Finn Russell warns Scotland against Georgia complacency

:Headline: Finn Russell warns Scotland against Georgia complacency: ID:369532: from db_amp
The Racing 92 playmaker thinks a poor performance could cost players their place in the World Cup squad.

Finn Russell has told his Scotland teammates not to let stage fright wreck their final World Cup audition on Saturday.

Gregor Townsend's squad have one final chance to shine against Georgia in Tbilisi before the head coach announces the 31 players he will be taking to Japan.

Racing 92 playmaker Russell is normally the coolest performer in the Dark Blues camp but he has extra reason to be calm in the lead-up to Townsend's squad unveiling at Linlithgow Palace next Tuesday given his role as the Scottish attack's undisputed leading man.

Finn Russell's place in Scotland's World Cup squad is all but guaranteed (Ian Rutherford/PA)

The stand-off's place is all but guaranteed but he is aware some of his colleagues still have some convincing to do in order to book their seat on the plane to the Far East.

But he urged the rest of Townsend's hopefuls to stay relaxed when their moment under the Dinamo Arena spotlight comes as he admitted fluffed lines could be costly.

Russell said: "You've got to look forward to these games. If you're going to get tense then you might not perform as well.

"I think you've got to go into it full on, wanting to play, wanting to perform and wanting to do your best.

Sam Skinner will miss the World Cup because of injury (Ian Rutherford/PA)

"I know there might be pressure on players to perform and get a win away from home. But if you over-think it and worry, 'If we don't play well or if we lose then we might not get on the flight' then the chances are you won't play well because you'll be making it too complicated rather than sticking to what you know and trust. It's better if you back yourself."

The only thing now likely to prevent Russell from facing Ireland in the Scots' Group A opener at the International Stadium in Yokohama on September 22 is injury.

Yet with a second clash with the powerhouse Georgians to come at Murrayfield six days after Saturday's Tbilisi Test, he is aware there are still a couple of hurdles to overcome.

The pitfalls were made clear this week when Exeter lock Sam Skinner was ruled out of the tournament as a result of the hamstring injury he sustained against France last weekend.

“You can't go out thinking about not getting injured.”
- Finn Russell ahead of Scotland's Test against Georgia

But Russell lived up to his laid-back reputation as he shrugged off the suggestion the next couple of games were all about staying out of trouble.

He said: "You can't go out thinking about not getting injured. It's a contact sport and injuries are going to happen. That's the way it is.

"Fraser Brown got injured towards the end of last season and Sam's been injured now. Personally, I don't think about that and neither will many of the boys.

"If you have a niggle, you might be a bit more cautious about it but if you're going into a game you can't be thinking, 'What if I try to tackle a guy and this happens or if I jump to catch a ball and that happens?' you'll probably end up in bad positions because you're being cautious trying to get out the way of it."

Scotland beat France 17-14 in Edinburgh on Saturday (Ian Rutherford/PA)

Scotland recovered from their five-trying pasting in Nice to beat Les Bleus 17-14 in Edinburgh last Saturday.

They will now look to improve on a miserable away record that has produced just three wins from their last 11 matches on the road but Russell is wary of the Lelos.

He said: "Georgia will be tough. They are getting better every year. There are a couple of Georgian players who play with me at Racing (Guram Gogichashvili and Vasil Kakovin), so it will be fun for me going up against them.

"Knowing the quality those guys bring to Racing shows their national team are getting better and they are getting more and more depth. We'll have to be at our best to fly out there and win."

amp_article__369532 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-08-28 11:17:04:
html db last update - 2021-03-05 00:55:29 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Finn Russell

Click here for more stories about Scotland

Share this article now:
Read more about Finn Russell Rugby Union
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal33235577265174
2Liverpool33228375324374
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33127144653-743
12Fulham34126165054-442
13Bournemouth33119134860-1242
14Crystal Palace3399154256-1436
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton33108153448-1430
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3337233188-5716
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .