Six Nations 2018: Scotland need Finn Russell at his best but misfiring display gives Eddie Jones all the ammo he needs

The fly-half was hauled off during the victory over France as Scotland needed more control, but what they require most is the Finn Russell of last autumn to return and take the game to England

Finn Russell was far from his best on Sunday and could find himself an easy target for Eddie Jones next week (Getty)

Eddie Jones, presuming he was watching, might have rubbed his hands with glee when Finn Russell trudged ruefully from the pitch at BT Murrayfield on Sunday afternoon. With 10 minutes to play the game was in the balance and Gregor Townsend decided the mercurial Russell was not his choice to see it through.

Instead Greig Laidlaw, a rugby pragmatist, was switched to fly-half. Russell, who might have been cut from Townsend’s playing cloth, sat on the bench and watched Scotland close out the victory. In the 145 minutes Russell has been on the field in this Six Nations, Scotland have never led.

“Finn made a few errors,” said Townsend. “We know he can play much better.”

Having doubted Rhys Patchell last week and seen him struggle at Twickenham, Jones may want to set his sights on another of the Pro 14’s star attractions in the 10 shirt ahead of England’s trip north in two weeks. For Jones, Russell looks a sitting duck.

He was far from alone in under-performing in Cardiff and had a curate’s egg of a game against France, there was a missed tackle in France’s opening try, a penalty kicked dead and another simple kick put out on the full in open play costing Scotland a chunk of territory. His second missed touch from a penalty ended with France converting a penalty of their own – in a tight encounter these were notable mistakes, and Jones will have noted them in block capitals.

There might have been a few Racing players in the French ranks wondering why the club has spent so much to recruit the 25-year-old from Glasgow to succeed Dan Carter. Yet there is little doubt Russell will start against England and collect a 35th cap. If Scotland are to stand any chance of upsetting England, and succeeding where Wales failed in penetrating that formidable defence, Townsend needs Russell. He needs his Russell of the autumn back.

It is a feature of Russell’s career that he can have some eye-wateringly poor moments. It is because he is a habitual risk taker. And there have been many more matches in which he has been eye-openingly good. He was outstanding in guiding Scotland to victory in Australia last summer and pulled the strings with insouciant aplomb in the autumn as the Australians were run ragged at Murrayfield. He was excellent too against the All Blacks. Further back he was instrumental in Scotland’s improved Six Nations last year, man of the match in two of the three Murrayfield games. He plays on the edge and when on his game is a 10 who can work an opening, for himself or others, against the consistently impressive line speed of England’s defence

“We don’t become a bad side because of one game,” said Huw Jones reflecting after beating France on the reaction to the defeat in Cardiff. He could say the same about Russell.

Russell's feeble attempt to tackle Teddy Thomas cost Scotland the opening try of the match (Getty)

That the England game is preceded by the Six Nations taking a weekend pause may well frustrate him. One of Russell’s strengths is the ability to shrug off mistakes and come again. He is a doer not a thinker, an instinctive rugby player. His link play and quick hands were evident against France – he was heavily involved in Scotland’s opening try – even if his kicking was below par. Most of his successes in a Scotland – and Glasgow – jersey have come with Ali Price inside him. Townsend wanted Price’s dynamism on the pitch for the final quarter on Sunday, but at Russell’s cost.

Whether Laidlaw is the best partner for Russell cannot be a debate for the moment as Laidlaw is going nowhere. The former captain has also taken the kicking duties from Russell – a role Russell has filled accurately and consistency for Scotland and Glasgow.

This is a significant moment in Russell’s Test career, questions are being asked but he is more than capable of answering them, whatever Jones may be tempted to suggest in the coming days.

Russell aside, Townsend had plenty of positives to take from Sunday’s victory. Scotland’s forwards, with Simon Berghan and Grant Gilchrist to the fore, had the better of the French by the end. The Scotland coach, who said Scotland must improve further if they are to challenge England, made the right choices in selection and then in tinkering with Scotland’s tactics at half-time, recognising that the breath-taking pace of the opening half could not be sustained. His major selection choice for England will be at 12 rather than 10. If Alex Dunbar is fit, his defensive soundness and extra physicality may be considered better suited to fit alongside Russell than Peter Horne’s play-making abilities.