Finn Russell encouraged by new playmaking axis after Stuart Hogg’s retirement

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has spoken highly of Blair Kinghorn as the pair build a new playmaking axis following the surprise retirement of Stuart Hogg.

Hogg hung up his boots with immediate effect three weeks ago after deciding that his body could not handle his initial plan to keep going until after the World Cup.

Russell and Hogg developed a close understanding on the pitch after years of playing together for Glasgow Warriors and Scotland.

Russell-Kinghorn

However, the Bath-bound fly-half needs to spark a new understanding with Kinghorn, who is set to replace Hogg at full-back.

Russell has been encouraged by his blossoming on-field relationship with Kinghorn and looks ahead to the clashes against France and the Rugby World Cup.

“It’s obviously slightly different,” said Russell on adapting without his former captain.

“What Hoggy brought, he has so much experience at the top level, so I was able to bounce questions off him and interact really well. We got on really well.

“It’s obviously different having Blair or Ollie Smith there, whoever is playing for us.

“But in training, if it’s been me and Blair in the same team, as we all know, Blair can play ten really well, so we have interacted really easily and chopped and changed who is at ten all the time.

“Sometimes, if he is in the wide ruck, he might jump into 10 in the next phase, which allows me to be a little bit wider.

“The way Blair has been training at fullback has been really good. He is hitting the ball really well; he is a big guy, he is really quick. He has different attributes to Hoggy.

“The way we have linked has been really good, which is great to see because it is a new relationship between me and Blair at ten or 15. Hoggy has been there for the last ten years.”

French crowds

Looking ahead to a swift return to France after his five-year spell with Racing 92 came to an end in June, Russell is relishing the challenge of the tournament and hopes to help his teammates deal with the pressure of the French crowds.

“The following they get for rugby in France, it’s one of the best countries in the world for that, and for the World Cup, it will be even more,” Russell said.

“I was at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, but for me, this could potentially be the best one for us as players with the atmosphere and hype.

“I know what the French crowds can be like and what the build-up to games can be like. Obviously, so will Richie Gray.

“Hopefully, I can chat to the boys and tell them what it will be like. It won’t be like Japan or even like London, Newcastle or Leeds. It will be very different.

“The opening game [against South Africa] is at Marseille, I have never played at that stadium, but I have heard it’s amazing.

“It’s the biggest stage and a country that loves rugby, so it will be great fun.”

Rugby World Cup warm-ups

Scotland face France on consecutive weekends as they continue their preparations for the Rugby World Cup with their final warm-up game against Georgia.

“These next three games will be really important, for myself and the team to get back into it,” Russell said.

“It’s six or seven weeks I have not played, so it will be good to get out as quick as possible this weekend and get back to playing well.

“I might play well straight away, I’m not sure, but after eight weeks off, it’s very different going from training to a Test match against the number two team in the world.”

Scotland have been drawn in Pool B, where they will face Ireland, South Africa, Tonga and Romania.

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