Finn Russell has questioned the tactics employed by Warren Gatland’s Lions during the series defeat to South Africa.
The Scotland fly-half, whose national coach Gregor Townsend was in charge of the attack, feels the tourists should have played more rugby against the Springboks.
That’s what he looked to do when he came as an 11th minute replacement for Dan Biggar in the deciding third Test in Cape Town.
Russell produced a fine display off the bench, but ultimately the Lions went down to a 19-16 defeat to lose the series 2-1.
Speaking on the Scottish Rugby podcast, he has been reflecting on the campaign.
“I thought that all three Tests we should have played more rugby and gone at them a little bit more,” he said.
“The first two Tests we played off nine for two phases and I kind of felt that played into their defence.
“We weren’t doing much out of the back of it. We were keeping the attack narrow instead of having a wide attack.
“The first ten minutes of the third Test, there was still quite a bit of kicking and a lot of play off nine.
“There wasn’t much rugby that actually got played.
“I was sitting on the bench thinking we are doing the same as in the last two games even though we’ve spoken about being a little bit more expansive.
“With coming on early enough, I was able to try and play that style of rugby.”
That’s precisely what Russell did, declaring ‘Let’s have a bit of fun’ to Scottish half-back partner Ali Price when he came on.
“I kept saying to the boys make sure we get as flat as we can and get the ball out of the hands quickly,” he explained.
“If you are confident in your skills and flat enough on them, they can’t recover when you throw that pass across the front and kick to the edge.
“That’s how I’ve always played, so it’s fine for me.
“My mindset was that whenever I got on I was going to run it and play everything.
“That’s what I thought was best to take them on.”
Outlining the mood in the camp after the game, Russell said: “Everyone was gutted that we lost and it was really frustrating because it was a game we could have won.
“We had chances where if it had gone slightly differently we could have still won the game.
“Everyone was upset and down that we lost the game, but the overall performance was a really good one.
“We went out there and did everything we could to beat them and we actually went at them instead of just waiting for them to crack or for a miss kick.
“We actually went out and played some good rugby and had a go at them.”
On his own display, he said: “For me, I had a decent performance, so I am happy with that.
“But when you lose the game, lose the series, that’s kind of all that really matters. That’s what’s going to be remembered.
“It was a good performance from us, but we didn’t win the game. So mixed emotions coming back after that.”
Russell also revealed it had been touch and go whether he would stay on tour after damaging his Achilles early on.
“It was the first or second day I hurt it,” he said.
“I didn’t think much of it. We just thought it was tendonitis.
“But when they scanned it, they found there was a tear in it.
“They said it could be like a six to eight week injury or you might be able to turn it round in a couple of weeks and stay on.
“So it could have gone either way whether or not I flew home or stayed out.”
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In the end, Russell remained in South Africa and got back in time for the final Test, going on to make an early entry onto the field after Biggar took a heavy bang to his shin.
“I wasn’t expecting to go on even went he went down,” he admitted.
“He was holding his leg, but I thought he would get back up and be fine.
“I was just chilling at the side, thinking I’ll be ready if I need to get on, but that the chances of him coming off that early were quite slim.
“I didn’t really think that much, but then they give you the call ‘Right Finn, you are going on’.
“So it was ‘All right, well, here we go there then’.
“I just said to Ali ‘Let’s have a bit of fun then’.
“It was good for me. Instead of just coming on with 20 minutes to go and having to adapt to how the match was being played, I could just go at my game from the start.
“I came on early enough that I was able to play my style of rugby.
“I am so comfortable playing with Ali that it was easy enough for me. There weren’t any nerves at all.”
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