Finn Russell’s sole objective at Bath as new chapter at Premiership club already bearing fruit

His presence in the Premiership with Bath has galvanised the team and turbocharged their improvement as they look to rejoin the elite clubs of European rugby.

Often called a maverick, an entertainer and more, spend time with the impish fly-half, and you realise he’s a deep thinker of the sport and a man of humility and ambition.

Moving from Glasgow to Racing 92 to Bath in the space of five seasons, Russell is keen to further his rugby education and admits that life in the West Country is offering him new challenges and a certain quality of life as he consolidates his learning in the 10 shirt.

Change of lifestyle

“Bath is very different to Paris. Paris is a lot bigger as a city, with a lot more going on. There are good cafés and restaurants, but in general, it seems a lot quieter here. It’s nice,” he said.

“I’ve got a daughter who just turned one a few weeks ago, and we can drive into town and get lunch here as it takes 10 minutes, whereas in Paris, you could be half an hour to get somewhere depending on where you’re going.

“It’s probably been a bit easier being here, and it’s nice to be in a bit smaller, more intimate city, with a young family. I don’t quite know Bath that well yet, and I think the weather has played a factor in that. I’m looking forward to it getting a bit nicer, around Six Nations time, and we can properly get out, explore, and figure it out.

“The lads have welcomed me. I’d say Tom Dunn is the go-to guy if I have any questions, unless it was haircuts! He has a lot of connections. He put me in contact with a gardener and then I changed my garage into a living room-play room and asked him where I could get rid of the garage door. So he said he’d take it and use it for something, God knows what! I was quite happy with that!”

With Russell signing on a sizeable salary, the move to Bath needed to be the right one for him, and he admits he went through a process of due diligence, with the aim of silverware firmly in his sights as a personal target.

“When I saw the signings they made a year ago now, from the back end of last season, and then chatting to Johann (van Graan) and hearing how he sees the club progressing, that was a really exciting opportunity to get involved in it,” he said.

“Partly through the signings, and the way that I got on so well with Johann at the start. Before I met him, I had a few questions.

“He was at Munster before and kicked the ball a lot, so I was a bit sceptical about how it would be me coming here. I wasn’t too sure if I was the right person, but after that first meeting with him, it’s fair to say I felt at home straight away, and I felt really comfortable chatting to him.

“He’s easy to speak to and get on with. We seemed to be both on the same page right from the off. Add to that I caught up with Lee Blackett in the summer just to go over the attack structure, and it’s been an easy transition for me, so far!”

Silverware

While Russell has settled nicely into life at Bath and enjoys the style of rugby the team are playing, there is one thing in particular that he is desperate for.

“Titles – that’s something I wanted as well,” he said. “For me, the stage I’m at, I’ve only won one title in my career [Glasgow, PRO12, 2015]. I want more; everyone does. Bath has a lot of history behind it, and Bruce Craig, the owner, especially wants to win titles again here. Johann has done a great job recruiting the players he has, and that is one of the reasons I came here, to try to win these titles.

“The style of rugby that Lee’s brought in and Johann’s allowing us to play, it gives me a lot of confidence to have a crack, have a go, get the ball into the backs’ hands and try to execute the opportunity they’re seeing.

“Whether that’s a chip over the top, a double miss pass or whatever it is, they’ve got the backing of the rest of the teams and the coaches, which I think brings the best out of me and them.

“I think the mentality here is different to France and the mentality of Scotland is different than France and England. So as a 10 it was really good because it grew my overall knowledge of the game, and understanding of different parts of the game.

“As a result, my outlook on how you should play the game has changed at times. That’s to do with the coaching that you’re getting, the players that you play with.

“Racing loved just chucking the ball as quick as possible – let them go. It’s a very simple game plan. Here at Bath that might become similar with Ollie (Lawrence) just chucking the ball and go get him in the game as much as possible. Although we’ve got a very good pack to do a job here, and Ben Spencer is kicking probably the best in the world just now.”

Learning and adapting

As Russell intimated, Bath can play in various different ways, which means using his vast skill set to adapt to whatever the conditions throw at him.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve changed much, but I am learning and adapting,” he added. “If you look at the All Blacks in the World Cup, they got to the final by playing a very exciting style of rugby and then there’s the Springboks playing the opposite style of rugby who just won it but 14 against 15 and that’s fine.

“I thought they (New Zealand) gave them a good run for their money, you know? So, I wouldn’t say there’s a right or wrong. I think one thing from when I was in New Zealand was their rugby knowledge – everyone was incredible at club level.”

As the assembled rugby press sat in the President’s suite drinking steaming hot coffee in the Bath gloom, watching the rain pelt down on the cricket pitch behind the stands, Russell observed: “I think it’s kind of fitting into the team and playing within their strengths and understanding what you’re actually capable of by making the most of that (knowledge).

“So again, that’s something that I’ve probably learned over time and I’m still learning, you know. The weather conditions here are different compared to playing in Paris (at La Defense) when I was indoors. So there, you can throw the ball around in a more entertaining stay over there, but here, that might not just work, you know, especially if the weather’s as it is today!

“It’s essentially about accepting that and backing yourself to make the right decisions and that doesn’t change.

“I’m very confident in my vision, and I back myself to execute whatever I’m trying – well most times, that is! But if it doesn’t come off, that’s probably more so me not executing the individual skill that I’ve tried. It could be something simple or it could be something harder or riskier, but that’s me.

“I wouldn’t change that. I’m still trying things and I’m still trying to create chances and I think as more appear, the boys are starting to understand what I am trying to do and they are looking for (those chances) too.”

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