Scotland’s Six Nations got off to the worst start eight days before a ball was kicked or thrown
Star player Finn Russell, a genuine world class talent, left the squad and subsequently played no part in the opening match in Ireland.
He remains missing against England and head coach Gregor Townsend has this week stated that the matter will be resolved either way in the coming week.
What happened?
The Ireland match would have been Russell's 50th cap but in a meeting with Gregor Townsend he was informed that he would not be considered for inclusion in the matchday squad.
An apparent invitation to remain and help his team-mates with their preparations was declined and Russell returned to Paris where he plays his club rugby.
A Scotland team statement later read: “Stand-off Finn Russell will play no further part in preparations for Scotland’s Six Nations opener against Ireland, having been disciplined for a breach of team protocol during the week’s camp in Edinburgh. He has returned to his club.”
What did he do?
Essentially Russell when out drinking until the early hours of the morning and was then awol from training the next day.
Details later emerged that the 27-year-old arrived in Edinburgh to join his international teammates after travelling from London where he had been in action for Racing 92 against Saracens.
He spent the evening drinking in the team’s hotel but when approached by teammates and members of Scotland’s backroom staff declined to stop and later left to return to his parents’ home in Stirling.
Russell missed training the next morning but did report later. He was then told he would not be selected for duty against Ireland in Dublin.
There have also been rumours that Russell and Townsend do not see eye to eye over tactics which has soured their relationship.
Will he play again for Scotland?
Russell has been told he will have to wait until Scotland have dealt with England before Gregor Townsend decides whether to welcome the stand-off back.
“I spoke to Finn on Sunday night to let him know that we wouldn’t be making any changes to our squad,” he said.
“I will reassess things after we get through this weekend.”
Asked if it was a ‘positive conversation’, he quickly clarified, saying: “It was a conversation and it was telling him he wasn’t going to be back in the squad this week. We will look at things next week.”
