Finn Russell admits profitable Six Nations title with Scotland could be the height of his profession
Finn Russell says clinching a Six Nations title would represent the pinnacle of his career — and believes Scotland are ready to do it.
Gregor Townsend’s side head into the final weekend of a rollercoaster campaign with a genuine chance of winning the championship following their thrilling 50-40 victory over France at Murrayfield.
They will now look to register a first win over Ireland in Dublin since 2010 in the Super Saturday afternoon kick-off, and then hope France fail to do the same at home to England in the late game.
Those two outcomes would see Scotland crowned as Six Nations champions for the first time ever and seal a first championship since Jim Telfer’s side claimed the final Five Nations trophy in 1999.
Russell won the Pro 12 title with Glasgow Warriors in 2015, was an integral part of Bath’s treble-winning team last season and has also been selected three times for the British and Irish Lions.
But the 33-year-old believes winning something tangible with Scotland would mean more to him than any of those other achievements.
Finn Russell waves to the Scotland fans after a magnificent victory over France in Edinburgh
He said: ‘I think it’s amazing. It’s new territory for us going into the last game with a chance to win it. I’ve probably never been in a position where [winning the Six Nations] has been an option.
‘I’ve won a few titles, I’ve been in finals before. But I think winning something with Scotland, especially the Six Nations, would be definitely the peak of my career.
‘When you start playing for Scotland, you always want to win it, obviously. We’ve never put ourselves in a position where we can win it.
‘Now we’re in that position, it’s all to play for this weekend. It’ll definitely be up there as the top thing in my career if we can win it.
‘I think we’re ready [for that next step]. We know what’s on the line now. It’s been nine years since we’ve beaten Ireland, it’s quite a while. There’s that monkey on our back — but that’s all outside noise.
‘We need to make sure we get our preparation right and we build for this weekend. We can’t start thinking we’ve not beaten them in nine years. This has to be the one.
‘We don’t need any added pressure for this game. We just need to make sure we get our mindset right and we perform on the weekend.
Russell says winning the Six Nations title with Scotland would be the pinnacle of his career
‘We know a lot of the Ireland players from the summer [Lions tour], we know a lot of the coaching staff. We’ve got a better understanding of them but it’s going to come down to 15 on 15 or 23 on 23 on the pitch on the weekend.
‘I don’t think the mindset will change at all, even though the title is on the line, effectively. I think that’s the beauty of this last match. We’re in with a chance of winning and so are they.’
Russell joked that he would be messaging his Bath team-mates — Guy Pepper, Billy Sela, Sam Underhill, Henry Arundell, Max Ojomoh and Ben Spencer — to make sure England are ready to bounce back from their defeat to Italy by thwarting France.
The fly-half, though, also warned that whatever happens in Paris will have no consequence for Scotland if they can’t take care of their own business earlier in the day.
He added: ‘That [the France vs England match] will be something that will come after the game.
‘I’d imagine we’ll all watch it in the hotel and see what’s what. We can’t really start thinking about that until we’ve actually had the performance that we’re looking for during the game.
‘All eyes will be on England-France after the game. We need to make sure we get it right so that we actually get a point to watch that game.
‘I’ll be texting [his Bath team-mates], don’t worry! But England and us are very different teams. France and England are very different.
‘I could try and give them some tips. But whether or not that’s going to suit their game plan or not, I’m not sure. I think we’ll get to that when it comes on Saturday night.’
Russell said Saturday’s seven-try win over a France side going for the grand slam was one of his most enjoyable afternoons in a Scotland shirt.
He added: ‘It’s definitely up there. Beating France is no easy feat. They’re probably the form team in the tournament.
Finn Russell kicks his conversion after Darcy Graham scored Scotland’s first try
‘For us to have come out as well as we did and actually put on a performance, it was amazing. Everyone was buzzing in the changing room but we know the job’s not done.
‘There will be a lot more outside noise after putting 50 points on France. I think, for us, it’ll be about making sure we keep it within the circle and we keep doing what we’re doing.
‘We’re still building a lot from the Argentina game in November with that tough loss, and then Italy to start the tournament, so we keep building up where we are.
‘It’s never the perfect performance. As long as we can keep the outside noise outside the circle and not let it get to us, then that’s the main thing.’
