'Uncomfortable video review coming up' - Finn Russell highlighted for poor work-rate against France
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Scotland's work rate on defence has come under scrutiny following their loss to France in round three of the Six Nations.
France ended their losing run at Murrayfield with a superb Six Nations victory against Scotland.
France gained revenge for two costly Six Nations defeats to Scotland with a stylish 36-17 bonus-point triumph at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Sublime team moves ended in early tries for Paul Willemse and Yoram Moefana, with the first of which coming from a brilliant run from captain Antoine Dupont.
It is that try that has seen Scotland's work rate come under scrutiny, with Finn Russell highlighted on this occasion.
The Scottish flyhalf poked a low kick through into the France 22, where Dupont scooped up the ball. The scrumhalf sped away after beating Russell and another Scotland defender before racing up to the France 22.
Les Bleus recycled the ball with Paul Willemse forcing his way over. Head Coach at Leinster schools and World Rugby coach educator Brett Igoe highlighted this try.
He pointed out how Russell jogged back as France continued their attack. Marchand and Willemse attacked the space that Russell should have covered, according to Igoe, with the second-rower powering over the for try.
Uncomfortable video review coming up in Scotland this week. The work-rate difference in the sides was incredible. 7mins in. #SCOvFRA #SixNations #ECOFRA #SixNations2022 pic.twitter.com/FhA0T3Lq5C
— Brett Igoe (@brettruganalyst) February 26, 2022
Former Ireland winger Shane Horgan didn't hold back in his assessment of Russell’s effort, saying on Virgin Media Sports on Irish TV: "That is actually pathetic for your top player, your talisman.
“Five minutes into the game. He doesn't have an injury, he's not fatigued. You look at someone like Rory Darge killing himself around the field — turning ball over, making tackles, carries, scoring a try — and then you've got your best player performing like that.
“There is no way any team can win consistently if you have players doing that. It's like what France were doing in their dark ages, but that's gone. You'd never see a Springbok doing that, you'd never see an All Black doing that.
"If Finn Russell wants to count himself as a really top player, have a look at the best players of the last 10 years. Look at the generational players like Brian O'Driscoll, Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson. They were so hard working, and that [from Russell] was pathetic."
