There have been more memorable Finn Russell performances against England. More spellbinding interventions and more unforgettable moments of magic in this fixture but there cannot be many more fitting examples of what makes him such a special player than his assist for Duhan van der Merwe’s third try – the score that ultimately determined that Scotland would retain the Calcutta Cup.
England’s blitz defence had done a proficient job of limiting Russell’s influence with ball in hand up until that point. He had largely kicked when presented with possession up until the 45th minute and Ollie Chessum and Ollie Lawrence had paid him close attention throughout.
