Playing more rugby rather than being “protected” at home in Scotland is better for Finn Russell and he believes will make him a more accomplished player.
Russell is “loving life in Paris” with Racing 92 and even a much more considerable workload –the recent enforced retirement of Racing’s Springbok Pat Lambie means he’ll be asked to play even more – is helping him.
“When I was at Glasgow, because it was all still part of the SRU, there was a big focus on being ready the international stuff,” he said.
“In France the focus is totally on my club rugby, not worrying about anything to do with Scotland, so when I do come back I’m ready to get into international mode.
“I’ll go back in the Six Nations bye weeks to play for Racing, so I will be in and out of the squad during the weeks off. That will be a different experience, again, but so far it’s one that is going quite well.”
With Glasgow, Russell would never play seven games in a row as he did for Racing until they gave him last weekend off.
“It’s a different mindset,” he said. “At Glasgow, you would know that playing the first two games meant getting the third week off, then you play a game and get the next week off.
“I know I could now go seven, eight, however many games on the bounce. Obviously with Pat having to retire, I have to go back and play.
“When I signed I knew this is what could happen, and I was ready for it.”
Even though he’s playing more, he feels “fresher mentally” and puts this down to the change of scene and how much he loves his new home.
“I have confidence anyway, but it’s also because I’m so happy,” he continued. “I’m loving life over in Paris, and that’s one of the things that breeds confidence.
“I know I’m playing good rugby over there and I can back myself. When I come back here to Scotland, it feels different, but I feel fresh again – although I’m playing more I feel fresher mentally, and everything that goes with moving clubs.”
And he’s bringing that feeling to Scotland camp, as well as what he’s learning from being at Racing.
“It may not be anything big you bring in,” he said. “Just small things that may be working for me in France, bringing them back here.
“It’s just small conversations with people, like speaking to Tommy (Seymour) about understanding what I’m looking for, what they’re seeing maybe is a bit different.
“One thing I’m driving for is for us to have more confidence in going out when we go wide. It is hard against blitz defences but, playing in the Top 14, you get that every week – and at Racing managed to get outside them.
“I’m trying get the boys to do that, to go and back themselves to get outside, instead of playing a one-out direct style.”
The Italian game is a huge one to set the foundation for what they hope will be a successful championship even improving on the two three-win campaigns the last two years, he agrees, but Italy cannot be underestimated.
“There is always a buzz around the tournament, especially with the level every team is at right now,” added Russell. “It feels like rugby has move on again very quickly.
“Everyone assumes that Italy at home is the easy game, but look at the way Treviso and Zebre are going and the way Italy played last year. It was only the last few minutes that we beat them last year.
“I think every team’s getting better especially Italy, they’ve improved so much in the last few years and I think (Conor) O’Shea’s done a really good job with them.”
Having a home game to start is an advantage, but Scotland haven’t done terribly well in the first game of the Six Nations whatever the venue.
“Last year especially, going to down to Wales, we were almost favourites for that game, and it didn’t turn out that well,” he said.
“The year before that we won at home (against Ireland) in the first game and that was the first time in a while. Last year brought us back down to earth.
“Last couple of years Scotland have been going in to the Six Nations with a bit more confidence, people are talking us up and saying we could be competitiors.
“But as players we can’t think about that too much. We need to get the job done, it’s still a test match no matter who you’re playing against.”
