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Finn Russell returns for Bath to boost title hopes
By PA
Finn Russell has returned from injury to reinforce the closing stages of Bath’s challenge for the Gallagher Premiership title.
The Scotland fly-half limped off early on European duty against Exeter on April 6 with groin damage that his club described as “significant”, raising the prospect he could miss the rest of the season.
But he has been restored to Bath’s starting line-up for their Premiership trip to Newcastle on Friday and will partner Ben Spencer at half-back.
Russell’s availability comes at a crucial time for the club as they target a play-off place in one of the most competitive seasons in the league’s history.
Bath are third in the table but sit just one point clear of fifth-placed Harlequins with two rounds of the competition remaining.
Russell’s creative brilliance has been instrumental in their climb out of the doldrums to become serious contenders for Saracens’ crown, while his return is also a boost for Scotland ahead of their summer tour to North and South America.
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Latest Comments
Well deserved for a young talented, bright and humble player.
Go to commentsCane shouldn’t have been one last year, based purely on performances. Lakai is as close to a like for like of swap of Savea you’re ever likely to find, based on his short career so far at least. He has many of the same qualities - very strong ball carrier, great at the breakdown, and an absolute work horse on defence. I feel like he and Sititi could lead the way in the loose at the next WC.
I think we have become obsessed with replacing Kaino with someone exactly like him. Kaino was a perfect foil for the other loose forwards we had at the time. Based on the talent we have around at the moment those players could be made up in the aggregate by three players who are all exception all rounders - Lakai, Sititi, and Savea. Missing some height for sure but Sititi’s defensive work in the line out last year was phenomenal. He gets off the ground so quickly and was able to steal a couple of balls off the top of the springbok line out.
If our young locks coming through can actually stay fit long enough to get selected, it seems inevitable that Va’ai could end up in a hybrid 6/lock role.
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