Finn Russell produces masterclass for the ages
Finn Russell may not have had the greatest first half against Wales at Murrayfield in round two of the Guinness Six Nations, but that does not matter when he had a second half like he did.
The Scotland No10 produced an attacking masterclass in the second 40, as Scotland beat the visitors 35-7, to inflict Warren Gatland his first ever loss to Scotland as Wales coach.
One minute he was producing a back of the hand offload for Kyle Steyn’s try, then a cross field kick for another Steyn try, and then it was a perfect cross field kick in the build up to Blair Kinghorn’s try. It was as good as it gets from the fly-half, or any fly-half really, as he was named man of the match.
🪄 Trust this man to Russell up some magic 🤩 @Scotlandteam #GuinnessSixNations #SCOvWAL pic.twitter.com/uiCes5yHpo
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 11, 2023
🏴 Just pure perfection from @Scotlandteam 🤌#GuinnessSixNations #SCOvWAL pic.twitter.com/tUKY2D1N81
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 11, 2023
Scotland XV
15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) 97 caps
14. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 6 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 12 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 24 caps
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) 66 caps
9. Ben White (London Irish) 10 caps
1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 17 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 54 caps
4. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 70 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – Vice-Captain – 60 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – Captain – 37 caps
7. Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 3 caps
8. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 29 caps
Replacements
16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 58 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 51 caps
19. Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) 73 caps
20. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 19 caps
22. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 39 caps
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 40 caps
Wales XV
15. Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 82 caps)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 45 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys – 110 caps)
12. Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – 2 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 4 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 104 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 41 caps)
1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 45 caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 87 caps) captain
3. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 46 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 2 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 42 caps)
6. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 3 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 5 caps)
8. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 7 caps)
Replacements
16. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys – 35 caps)
17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 18 caps)
18. Leon Brown (Dragons – 22 caps)
19. Rhys Davies (Ospreys – uncapped)
20. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 96 caps)
21. Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 37 caps)
22. Rhys Patchell (Scarlets – 21 caps)
23. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 56 caps)
