[2020 Six Nations] Scotland Squad

[Leinster Fan]

He said that was because a lot of them were SRU contracted and that they couldn't touch him in France so he could actually talk out as he didn't need to worry about the next paycheck.

I do understand why he would be ****** of to be fair.

If he's repeatedly felt excluded from the decision making process and has then been told that a decision has been made by a committee that he is on whilst he wasn't there then he has every right to be ****** off with them. It's not like they were even playing that weekend anyway?

He also said that he had messaged Townsend a week before going into camp and had been ignored so was angry anyway and that after Townsend told him he wasn't going to play Ireland and that he could go back to France that he was again ignored until being told he wasn't getting called back in. Sounds like they just don't get on tbh and with the apparent disagreements that Russell and Hogg have had in the past that captaincy probably hasn't gone down to well either

Smacks of a 15 year old moaning 'why won't anyone listen to meeeeee'

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Smacks of a 15 year old moaning 'why won't anyone listen to meeeeee'

Maybe, but when he's Scotland's best player by a mile then should you just let him do that?

Again as he said in the interview, if he's not missing training and his standards don't drop in any capacity, why deny an extra pint?

I'm not saying let him do what he wants but if he continues to make Scotland better ( which imo he does to a huge extent) then surely you loosen the leash?

Barca do it with Messi... Team comes first of course but if the team is still better for their presence on their terms then what is the point of getting rid of them if it's not an actual problem?

 

[die_mole]

Smacks of a 15 year old moaning 'why won't anyone listen to meeeeee'

they put him on the "leadership committee" and then cut him out of the decision making process

if you tell a 15 year old that you're gonna let him be part of the decision making process but then lock him out of the room, he may be annoying when he wines about it, but you're still an asshole

 

[Leinster Fan]

they put him on the "leadership committee" and then cut him out of the decision making process

if you tell a 15 year old that you're gonna let him be part of the decision making process but then lock him out of the room, he may be annoying when he wines about it, but you're still an asshole

Was he locked out of the room?

He missed out on getting to be involved with the decision over the drinking because he wasn't there, which isn't his fault, but what were they meant to do? They made a perfectly reasonable decision and he isn't entitled to overrule that regardless.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Maybe, but when he's Scotland's best player by a mile then should you just let him do that?

Again as he said in the interview, if he's not missing training and his standards don't drop in any capacity, why deny an extra pint?

I'm not saying let him do what he wants but if he continues to make Scotland better ( which imo he does to a huge extent) then surely you loosen the leash?

Barca do it with Messi... Team comes first of course but if the team is still better for their presence on their terms then what is the point of getting rid of them if it's not an actual problem?

If it was only the one extra pint then sure grand, probably worth pushing the envelope for, but when it goes on all night and he doesn't show up the next day? That's just unprofessional. If he got away with it other players would rightfully start asking why they don't get to wilfully break rules and protocol as well. It undermines the coach's authority.

There is some wriggle room for exceptional players, but Russell backed Townsend into a corner on this one, if he'd let him get away with this any claim of authority over the squad is gone.

There's a reason Barca haven't won the champions league in years, that's a squad full of talented players with the life sucked out of them by a ludicrous overeliance on the cult of one man (and let's face it even in rugby terms Finn Russell is about a gazillion echelons below Messi for talent, not to mention that as far as I know it Messi has never gone out on the **** and not showed up for training the next day). Barcelona is not something any sane team wants to emulate.

 

[die_mole]

well he's an adult, he entitled to do whatever the hell he wants as long as he's willing to accept the consequences, which he has.

he is also perfectly entitled to not want to play for them if this is how they operate.

no one knows how much he drank that night.

If he was upset about the team rule and drank an extra pint, talk about the team rule the next day and see what you want to do.

he played a game and got on a flight, landed and was told there was a new team rule that was made without his input (when he has been told he would have that input).

was he told that this rule was going to be made without him? Had the "leadership team" plan on having this rule on place? Did they give him a heads up?

i agree that no player comes before the team, but no player should have to play for a team they don't want to

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

If it was only the one extra pint then sure grand, probably worth pushing the envelope for, but when it goes on all night and he doesn't show up the next day? That's just unprofessional. If he got away with it other players would rightfully start asking why they don't get to wilfully break rules and protocol as well. It undermines the coach's authority.

There is some wriggle room for exceptional players, but Russell backed Townsend into a corner on this one, if he'd let him get away with this any claim of authority over the squad is gone.

There's a reason Barca haven't won the champions league in years, that's a squad full of talented players with the life sucked out of them by a ludicrous overeliance on the cult of one man (and let's face it even in rugby terms Finn Russell is about a gazillion echelons below Messi for talent, not to mention that as far as I know it Messi has never gone out on the **** and not showed up for training the next day). Barcelona is not something any sane team wants to emulate.

It was literally one more pint with dinner apparently, then an argument and he went home to his parents in Stirling.

Scotland are a better team with him than without

 

[TRF_Olyy]

literally [...] apparently

Hrrmmm

Unless they can hire Carl Fearns to chin him, then Scotland are far better off without him after all this. Guy seems mega toxic and bringing him back after this dummy out the pram moment sends the wrong message.
If he hadn't have been sent away and and he hadn't kicked off, then they'd be better off with him there now - but too much has gone on and both sides have made their beds.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Hrrmmm

Unless they can hire Carl Fearns to chin him, then Scotland are far better off without him after all this. Guy seems mega toxic and bringing him back after this dummy out the pram moment sends the wrong message.
If he hadn't have been sent away and and he hadn't kicked off, then they'd be better off with him there now - but too much has gone on and both sides have made their beds.

Yeah I guess. If Scotland end up losing a game where they would have needed a little bit of Russell flair then it will rightly be on Townsend's head. It's the job of a head coach to keep his players playing.

It's not like.cipriani with us or cooper with the wallabies, Scotland don't have anyone near his level

 

[TW27BA]

Gregor Townsend responds to the Sunday Times piece.
I don't see Finn Russell playing for Scotland again unless he relents or Townsend is replaced.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51452035

 

[retired9]

As good as Finn is his attitude doesn't seem to be right, he cant be that keen to play for Scotland when he knowingly broke a rule set by the team.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yeah I guess. If Scotland end up losing a game where they would have needed a little bit of Russell flair then it will rightly be on Townsend's head. It's the job of a head coach to keep his players playing.

It's not like.cipriani with us or cooper with the wallabies, Scotland don't have anyone near his level

Disagree. Russell and Townsend clearly don't get on but this is totally down to Russell's petulant actions. He put Townsend in an impossible position. If Scotland lose a match which his flair might have won, then the other players should look angrily in his direction.

Russell could have chosen to handle this very differently and in private. He's made an issue out of it and will have to take the consequences which may include team mates wondering if he really is a team player.

 

[retired9]

All things considered I think Hastings is doing a good job overall, he is 23 and has been semi thrown into the role this tournament. 4 years behind Russell in experience but he has a more inclusive style of attack I feel and we have seen a bit more of Johnson crashing up and different players coming in than normal. Unless things have changed since I last saw him play for Scotland, Russell is no demigod there are a few questionable decisions as well.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Scotland atm

 

[Reiser99]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51588581

At what point do sound bites like this become meaningless? Seems like this or something similar has been consistently said over the past 6-8 years at least if not longer. Scotland looked to really be improving under Cotter, but they've gone backwards. However many players are still the same. How long does it take you to learn?

Especially doesn't help when it's the captain saying it who butchered a try by being cocky.