Racing 92's Finn Russell looking to down Exeter in the Champions Cup final with his kicking game

‘We know our kicking game works and it’s hard for teams to defend against’: Forget coronavirus, Racing 92’s Finn Russell is looking to down Exeter in the Champions Cup final with his latest weapon… the chip!

  • Racing 92 star Finn Russell is hoping his kicking game can hurt Exeter next week
  • An outbreak of coronavirus has hampered preparations for Champions Cup final
  • Russell said ‘everything was been shut down’ with team forced to train at home
  • The Scot hopes the French side’s attacking game help them edge to victory 

Even when it comes to interviews, Finn Russell does things off the cuff.

No need for schedules, scripts or press officers telling him what to do. ‘When’s good?’ he says in a brief exchange. ‘I’ll give you a call in two minutes.’

Ninety seconds later he is on the phone discussing the second wave of lockdown life at his home in Paris.

Finn Russell has revealed that Racing 92's struggles to prepare for the Champions Cup final

Finn Russell has revealed that Racing 92’s struggles to prepare for the Champions Cup final

His team Racing 92 will play Exeter in Saturday’s Champions Cup final but their preparations have ground to a halt after an outbreak of Covid-19. ‘Everything shut down,’ he says. ‘We found out a few boys had it, closed the training centre, took a few days off and were given training to do at home.

‘You just have to adapt and get on with it. I’ve got a Wattbike and a few stretching bands, nothing too fancy. It keeps you ticking over and lifting weights isn’t really my style, anyway.

‘We were back in on Monday for tests and everyone who came back negative has trained in groups of three or four. This morning I started at eight, had some physio and was back home by 11.30. Gym, fitness, home. You’re only in for two-and-a-half hours.

‘It’s basically what things were like at the start of lockdown. I suppose it was a bit of a surprise but it was probably going to happen at some point.

Racing 92's are mindful of another Covid outbreak costing them in their final against Exeter

Racing 92’s are mindful of another Covid outbreak costing them in their final against Exeter

‘Usually you get your results by email but the boys who have it have been getting a call. The numbers came down this week, which is a good sign.’

For the last few weeks Russell has been hosting his sister, Jessie, who flew out to watch the semi-final victory over Saracens. It was a game in which Russell reasserted his credentials as the world’s in-form No10. Rugby’s smiling assassin.

His moment of magic split open the game in the 76th minute when he delicately chipped the defence to set up the try that ended the Saracens dynasty.

‘Virimi Vakatawa called it, I kicked it, Virimi gets it and we score. Easy!’ he says with a chuckle.

Virimi Vakatawa (left) in action during Racing 92's semi final win over Saracens last month

Virimi Vakatawa (left) in action during Racing 92’s semi final win over Saracens last month

‘We know our attacking kicking game works and it’s hard for teams to defend against. I’ll back myself to make that kick, no matter what time it is or what the score is. The attacking kicking game is getting bigger and bigger. Dan Biggar tried a few crossfield kicks off the first phase against Exeter, so maybe he’s seen a weakness.

‘Maybe he was trying to change the picture of how Exeter defend into a picture that Northampton were looking for.’

Have any specific rugby idols shaped Russell’s attacking style?

‘I wouldn’t say there’s one individual I’ve idolised but obviously Carlos Spencer was one of those guys who’d use all sorts of skills and tricks to unlock defences,’ he says.

Russell hopes Racing's kicking game can lead them to glory in the Champions Cup final

Russell hopes Racing’s kicking game can lead them to glory in the Champions Cup final 

Former All Black Joe Rokocoko recently labelled Russell ‘The Scottish Carlos Spencer’. Scotland team-mate and Exeter full-back Stuart Hogg described him as ‘one of the most naturally gifted players I have ever come across’.

Hogg and Russell have spent the bulk of their careers together in Scotland and Glasgow jerseys but the final will be the first time since schoolboy days that they line up on opposite sides.

Hogg said: ‘It will be strange because other than playing Under-14s I don’t think I’ve played against Finn. Back then he had a leopard-print haircut.

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg will face his international team mate Finn Russell in the final

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg will face his international team mate Finn Russell in the final

‘Nothing fazes him. If he makes a mistake, he gets on with his next job, chucks a 30-yard pass out the back door and it will be perfect. You’ve just got to give this boy the licence to play and let him have freedom, because he’s got the ability to change a game with a chip kick, a dummy. He’s a fantastic talent. I’m happy he’s Scottish!’

 Hogg and Russell are not the only Scots in the final. Jonny Gray and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne also joined Exeter and will be flying the Saltire flag at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

‘I’m going to give Jonny a call,’ quips Russell. ‘There’ll be a few bragging rights before the next Scotland camp.’

source: dailymail.co.uk