Flake Russell: what's the point?

[Torquemada 1420]

I just don't get it. Week after week he is the same flake, f**k up, game loser for Racing. The guy contributes far more game losing moments than the odd occasion his random sh*t strikes gold.

Utterly abject again today. Townsend will come to rue this reconciliation along with the rest of Scotland.

PS Please take him back home and FFS no-one select him for the Lions.

[Torquemada 1420]

The 38-year wait for success at the home of the reigning Six Nations champions finally came to an end as Finn Russell inspired the underdogs to a magnificent win.

Russell directed play masterfully

From PR. Says it all really.

[Begbie]

Quality thread lad. Everything ok at home?

[I like neeps]

Scotland beat England for the first time since before time was invented.

Yeah, but Russell is still awful

[Ymx]

What a strange strange angry thread, and more so considering the result.

[Ymx]

Or is this the congrats Scotland thread.

Ok, well congrats Scotland. Much sharper and energetic than a tired or badly conditioned England

[Slick]

never change Torq, you fucking loon

[Torquemada 1420]

never change Torq, you fucking loon

So, apart from
- leaving 5 points on the floor
- getting needlessly yellow carded
- f**king up in the middle which almost resulted in an Eng try
- and not making the cross kick for a golden try chance for Scotland. And yeah, I know some will call that harsh but if you elect to use the boot when you have an overlap, you'd better make it stick.

Scotland won despite his efforts to undermine his side which made the rests' efforts gargantuan. Esp in the yellow card period.

Most over rated player currently playing pro rugby.

[Sandstorm]

never change Torq, you fucking loon

He’s passionate for sure.

[Slick]

never change Torq, you fucking loon

So, apart from
- leaving 5 points on the floor
- getting needlessly yellow carded
- f**king up in the middle which almost resulted in an Eng try
- and not making the cross kick for a golden try chance for Scotland. And yeah, I know some will call that harsh but if you elect to use the boot when you have an overlap, you'd better make it stick.

Scotland won despite his efforts to undermine his side which made the rests' efforts gargantuan. Esp in the yellow card period.

Most over rated player currently playing pro rugby.

I’ll maybe engage you later but we just beat England at Twickenham for the first time since 1983 with him as our 10, so go fuck yourself.

Ps Jonny May.

[Begbie]

never change Torq, you fucking loon

So, apart from
- leaving 5 points on the floor
- getting needlessly yellow carded
- f**king up in the middle which almost resulted in an Eng try
- and not making the cross kick for a golden try chance for Scotland. And yeah, I know some will call that harsh but if you elect to use the boot when you have an overlap, you'd better make it stick.

Scotland won despite his efforts to undermine his side which made the rests' efforts gargantuan. Esp in the yellow card period.

Most over rated player currently playing pro rugby.

Did he pump your Mum?

[Biffer]

never change Torq, you fucking loon

So, apart from
- leaving 5 points on the floor
- getting needlessly yellow carded
- f**king up in the middle which almost resulted in an Eng try
- and not making the cross kick for a golden try chance for Scotland. And yeah, I know some will call that harsh but if you elect to use the boot when you have an overlap, you'd better make it stick.

Scotland won despite his efforts to undermine his side which made the rests' efforts gargantuan. Esp in the yellow card period.

Most over rated player currently playing pro rugby.

I’ll maybe engage you later but we just beat England at Twickenham for the first time since 1983 with him as our 10, so go fuck yourself.

Ps Jonny May.

Yeah, that's pretty much it.

[Caley_Red]

I just don't get it. Week after week he is the same flake, f**k up, game loser for Racing. The guy contributes far more game losing moments than the odd occasion his random sh*t strikes gold.

Utterly abject again today. Townsend will come to rue this reconciliation along with the rest of Scotland.

PS Please take him back home and FFS no-one select him for the Lions.

I thought you were only an angry loser on those politics threads but the unbalanced ranting has evidently crept into your rugby as well.

Thankfully, I now know how to respond given the high profile mental health campaigns at work: r u okay?

[Yr Alban]

Unbelievable. Scotland have literally just played England off the park at Twickenham, and you’re still cursing Russell out? Give over, FFS.

[Openside]

never change Torq, you fucking loon

So, apart from
- leaving 5 points on the floor
- getting needlessly yellow carded
- f**king up in the middle which almost resulted in an Eng try
- and not making the cross kick for a golden try chance for Scotland. And yeah, I know some will call that harsh but if you elect to use the boot when you have an overlap, you'd better make it stick.

Scotland won despite his efforts to undermine his side which made the rests' efforts gargantuan. Esp in the yellow card period.

Most over rated player currently playing pro rugby.

Re the cross kick do you not think with a dive he could have caught it before it bounced?

[Uncle fester]

In fairness, he was fairly mixed yesterday.

[Biffer]

It’s a nice place to be, getting criticised for not being at your very best when you beat England at Twickenham.

[Torquemada 1420]

In fairness, he was fairly mixed yesterday.

Which part was the +ve?

[robmatic]

never change Torq, you fucking loon

So, apart from
- leaving 5 points on the floor
- getting needlessly yellow carded
- f**king up in the middle which almost resulted in an Eng try
- and not making the cross kick for a golden try chance for Scotland. And yeah, I know some will call that harsh but if you elect to use the boot when you have an overlap, you'd better make it stick.

Scotland won despite his efforts to undermine his side which made the rests' efforts gargantuan. Esp in the yellow card period.

Most over rated player currently playing pro rugby.

Re the cross kick do you not think with a dive he could have caught it before it bounced?

I think that wasn't quite on, would have needed a hell of a take.

[Yr Alban]

Re: the cross kick, Duhan’s gesture said it all. If it bounces a few inches lower, he plucks it out of the air, it’s a try and Finn is a genius. Yesterday it didn’t quite come off, but the margins are very, very fine.

[assfly]

He wasn't great yesterday, but some of the criticism is a bit harsh.

He's the type of player that teams will build their defence structure around. He was clearly a marked man and had little room to do his thing. But I always feel that players like him attract so much attention from defence that it leaves spaces open elsewhere, which can become a significant contribution in itself.

[dpedin]

Russell had an average game, for him, yesterday but was still miles better than Farrell! However he draws defenders like bluebottles round a shit and creates panic in defences and more space for others around him. We all know he can do something magical at the least unexpected moments and that scared England yesterday, the memories of 2 years ago are still strong in their heads. Lets not under-estimate even just being on the pitch will create space for others. Alternatively, Farrell offers little in attack and the Scottish defence just drifted out wide and throttled the English backs, Lawrence had his first touch in the 60th minute? The English defence was also very worried about Russell's ability to make little kicks in behind rush defences and they altered their defensive shape accordingly and this created more space for us in attack and to kick into, which Hogg did easily. Sometimes the threat of Russell is more than enough to upset oppo defences, it certainly was yesterday, the English selection, Farrell for defensive qualities and kicking at 10, and defensive set up was almost designed to defend against Russell and left gaps elsewhere. Wouldn't have happened if VdW was picked at 10!

[Jock42]

what a fucking belter

[Openside]

Russell had an average game, for him, yesterday but was still miles better than Farrell! However he draws defenders like bluebottles round a shit and creates panic in defences and more space for others around him. We all know he can do something magical at the least unexpected moments and that scared England yesterday, the memories of 2 years ago are still strong in their heads. Lets not under-estimate even just being on the pitch will create space for others. Alternatively, Farrell offers little in attack and the Scottish defence just drifted out wide and throttled the English backs, Lawrence had his first touch in the 60th minute? The English defence was also very worried about Russell's ability to make little kicks in behind rush defences and they altered their defensive shape accordingly and this created more space for us in attack and to kick into, which Hogg did easily. Sometimes the threat of Russell is more than enough to upset oppo defences, it certainly was yesterday, the English selection, Farrell for defensive qualities and kicking at 10, and defensive set up was almost designed to defend against Russell and left gaps elsewhere. Wouldn't have happened if VdW was picked at 10!

Also having an FB that can kick it out of his 22 to the 5M line is a bonus!! I have never seen Hogg kick better.

[Blackmac]

never change Torq, you fucking loon

So, apart from
- leaving 5 points on the floor
- getting needlessly yellow carded
- f**king up in the middle which almost resulted in an Eng try
- and not making the cross kick for a golden try chance for Scotland. And yeah, I know some will call that harsh but if you elect to use the boot when you have an overlap, you'd better make it stick.

Scotland won despite his efforts to undermine his side which made the rests' efforts gargantuan. Esp in the yellow card period.

Most over rated player currently playing pro rugby.

To be honest I was critical of Russell yesterday but having watched it again and you are talking utter bollocks. Yes, the trip was maddening, but the screw up in the middle was not his fault it was Hogg's, and the mess at the drop kick attempt was the result of a terrible pass which forced him to try and change feet.

Other than that I now realise that he was pretty bloody good for the vast majority of the game and totally controlled Scotland's performance. His passing was excellent and his defence was superb.

Just about every review of the game his making him man of the match.

[JM2K6]

Reviews aren't a great barometer when it comes to rugby media tbh. He was good and bad, turned over a heap of possession, got himself binned with a ridiculous trip, almost handed the game to England with that absurd drop goal attempt, and some of his kicks were pretty bad. But yes, he did plenty good.

Motm is Hogg or a forward.

Duhan was in so much space there's not really any excuse for that kick not finding him. Players these days are good enough to hit the man on the full.

[Torquemada 1420]

Had a stinker for Racing last night. The difference in a tight game was that Carbonel (7 from 7) was superb and Russell was not.
Another example of the extremes of his play.

[Biffer]

Had a stinker for Racing last night. The difference in a tight game was that Carbonel (7 from 7) was superb and Russell was not.
Another example of the extremes of his play.

You’ve really got an obsessive hard on for him haven’t you

[SaintK]

Had a stinker for Racing last night. The difference in a tight game was that Carbonel (7 from 7) was superb and Russell was not.
Another example of the extremes of his play.

You’ve really got an obsessive hard on for him haven’t you

Odd really considering Torq isn't even a Scotsman

[Yr Alban]

Had a stinker for Racing last night. The difference in a tight game was that Carbonel (7 from 7) was superb and Russell was not.
Another example of the extremes of his play.

You’ve really got an obsessive hard on for him haven’t you

He really does, and he comes back to the subject over and over and over again. He's like that bloke in the pub who can briefly be distracted from his favourite subject, but as soon as there's a lull in the conversation he goes straight back to it and recommences boring everyone to death.

[Biffer]

Had a stinker for Racing last night. The difference in a tight game was that Carbonel (7 from 7) was superb and Russell was not.
Another example of the extremes of his play.

You’ve really got an obsessive hard on for him haven’t you

He really does, and he comes back to the subject over and over and over again. He's like that bloke in the pub who can briefly be distracted from his favourite subject, but as soon as there's a lull in the conversation he goes straight back to it and recommences boring everyone to death.

And then tries to insist it’s your obsession, not his, as his fist bangs off the underside of the table.

[dkm57]

You’ve really got an obsessive hard on for him haven’t you

He really does, and he comes back to the subject over and over and over again. He's like that bloke in the pub who can briefly be distracted from his favourite subject, but as soon as there's a lull in the conversation he goes straight back to it and recommences boring everyone to death.

And then tries to insist it’s your obsession, not his, as his fist bangs off the underside of the table.

Comedy Gold

[Torquemada 1420]

Had a stinker for Racing last night. The difference in a tight game was that Carbonel (7 from 7) was superb and Russell was not.
Another example of the extremes of his play.

You’ve really got an obsessive hard on for him haven’t you

Whooshed or what.

[Yr Alban]

He really does, and he comes back to the subject over and over and over again. He's like that bloke in the pub who can briefly be distracted from his favourite subject, but as soon as there's a lull in the conversation he goes straight back to it and recommences boring everyone to death.

And then tries to insist it’s your obsession, not his, as his fist bangs off the underside of the table.

Comedy Gold

I didn’t read that properly first time

[Uncle fester]

I know it's fun laughing at Torq's obsession but with that performance today, you have to concede that he has a point.

[Paddington Bear]

[Biffer]

Sorry, I just don't see it. Today was about the line out, pure and simple. Trying to pretend it was something else just makes excuses for them.

[Uncle fester]

Sorry, I just don't see it. Today was about the line out, pure and simple. Trying to pretend it was something else just makes excuses for them.

You're struggling for first phase possession, your pack are getting eaten alive and to top it all off your 10 is wasting possession on low percentage plays in miserable conditions.

He's a luxury player.

[Yr Alban]

Sorry, I just don't see it. Today was about the line out, pure and simple. Trying to pretend it was something else just makes excuses for them.

You're struggling for first phase possession, your pack are getting eaten alive and to top it all off your 10 is wasting possession on low percentage plays in miserable conditions.

He's a luxury player.

He’s a player who, like every 10 in the entire game, looks better behind a dominant pack. Dan Carter would have looked hopeless in a team that lost 6/9 of their own lineouts.

[Blackmac]

Sorry, I just don't see it. Today was about the line out, pure and simple. Trying to pretend it was something else just makes excuses for them.

You're struggling for first phase possession, your pack are getting eaten alive and to top it all off your 10 is wasting possession on low percentage plays in miserable conditions.

He's a luxury player.

He’s a player who, like every 10 in the entire game, looks better behind a dominant pack. Dan Carter would have looked hopeless in a team that lost 6/9 of their own lineouts.

The thing is though he doesn't often play behind a dominant pack and rarely shows that he knows how to play behind what we have got. As Fester says we cannot afford the luxury of him pissing possession away on risky plays.