FINN Russell reckons whoever comes out on top in Scotland’s crunch Rugby World Cup opener against Ireland will be able to regard themselves as realistic winners of the Webb Ellis Trophy.
These two Celtic cousins meet up in Yokohama on Sunday morning, and while Ireland have edged ahead of New Zealand to sit top of the World Rankings with Scotland back in seventh, Gregor Townsend’s side will feel pretty good about their prospects over the next five weeks if they can take the scalp of Joe Schmidt’s side out in Japan.
“For us, getting Ireland first is good,” said Russell, part of the team in our last victory against the Irish, a 27-22 win on Six Nations duty in 2017. “We can go head to head and see who is best.
“Whoever wins that game is going to be in a great position to get out of the group. So it’s a massive game for both teams. I don’t mind getting them up first.
“Both teams will be fresh, we’ll have new game plans, maybe even a few trick plays up our sleeves – you never know. They always have something planned. So we have to be on our best game to win that match.”
“Ireland went No. 1 in the world not so long ago,” said Russell. “So they’re a team who will be realistically trying to win the World Cup.
“But every team is going there to try to win it. You are not going to a World Cup for fun – you’re going because you want to win the tournament.
“For me, the first target is to get out of the group. Then in knock-out rugby, as we saw last time, anything can happen.
“It could be a bounce of the ball. It could be a referee’s decision. Anything like that.
“First and foremost, we need that good start against Ireland, get ourselves into the knock-out stages, where it’s a different game.
“Pretty much any team who gets into the knock-out stages can beat the best, on their day. Then it comes down to small margins – the bounce of the ball or a dodgy call, whatever.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here