Finn Russell set to start out Scotland’s Six Nations conflict in opposition to England – as ‘world-class’ fly-half is deemed match after recovering from a head damage

Finn Russell is set to be cleared to start at 10 for Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday and lead their bid for a record-breaking fifth successive Calcutta Cup victory over England, after recovering from a head injury.

The 32-year-old Bath fly-half was involved in a nasty collision with team-mate Darcy Graham during the Scots’ 32-18 home defeat against Ireland in the last round of the Six Nations, leaving both key backs in danger of missing the latest encounter with the ‘auld enemy’. 

But while Edinburgh wing Graham is expected to be omitted from the England match, Mail Sport understands that Russell will be named as co-captain – along with Rory Darge – by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.

His inclusion will depend on proving his readiness in an eve-of-match training session at the venue stadium on Thursday, but all the indications are that Russell will be fit and available. Glasgow’s Kyle Rowe is likely to fill the vacancy left by the enforced absence of Graham.

England are painfully aware of the threat posed by Lions playmaker Russell, who has been one of their tormentors-in-chief during the recent period of Scottish dominance in this fixture. 

As if the hosts weren’t already alert to the danger lurking in the blue No 10 shirt, Ollie Lawrence – Russell’s fellow Bath back – outlined just what the home side will have to contend with.

Finn Russell (middle) is set to be cleared to start at 10 for Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday

Russell has recovered from a head injury sustained in Scotland’s defeat by Ireland

The fly-half’s inclusion will serve as a welcome boost for Gregor Townsend and his side

‘Finn Russell is a world-class 10; a great player,’ said the England centre. ‘Sometimes he is in his own world and he can make things happen that not everybody else can see. He can create something out of nothing. 

‘He’s a skill player, he’s got a great passing game and a great kicking game, but it’s about what’s outside of him as well and stopping the momentum that he gets from the forwards and their carries. Hopefully we can slow down his game and limit his options.’

Russell is admired as a player who embodies pure attacking instinct and artistry, but according to Lawrence, a lot of background work and planning goes into the game-breaking moments he so often produces. ‘At Bath, he’s very diligent,’ he said. ‘He does a lot of prep with Lee Blackett (attack coach) and Johann Van Graan (director of rugby).

‘Before I met him, I thought he was a feel-based player but he sees pictures and understands them because of the analysis he’s done. He can do things off the cuff, but he is able to execute things that he’s already seen pictures of, that teams have done before, and he’s world-class at doing it.

‘It is going to be a challenge going up against him but it was the same last week with (Antoine) Dupont, another world-class player. If you put pressure on them, you can force them to make errors and that’s the plan on Saturday.’