Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan has remained coy on the fitness of star fly-half Finn Russell ahead of their crucial PREM semi-final tie against Exeter Chiefs, but detailed that he is in ‘a good place’.
The Scotland and British and Irish Lions Test ace has been out of action since their round 16 victory over Newcastle Red Bulls with a calf issue, but has otherwise been a mainstay in the starting XV.
Russell isn’t the only injury concern, either, with England international Guy Pepper also a notable absentee from their win over Leicester Tigers last time out.
Bath coy on key duo as Johann van Graan issues latest injury update
There were hopes that both men could be fit to play this weekend against Exeter Chiefs, and while those hopes have not been extinguished just yet, Van Graan has remained tight-lipped on their fitness ahead of the crucial play-off tie.
“Update is that we’ll announce a team on Friday at 12 o’clock,” said the HoR.
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The continued cloud over Russell is somewhat of a concern, though, with the fly-half starting 19 times for Bath this season in all competitions, 11 of which have come in the PREM, but van Graan did confirm he was ‘in a good place’ when quizzed if he was back in full training.
But, should Russell miss out yet again, Bath do have some very good deputies to fall back on. Los Pumas international Santi Carreras, Ciaran Donoghue and Max Ojomoh have all featured at fly-half at various points this season, while Tom de Glanville is also an option if needed.
“Every player in our squad brings their own qualities,” van Graan said on his fly-half options. “Whether it’s Santi, Ciaran, Finn, Max earlier in the season, at some stage it was Deege (Tom de Glanville) and Cam (Redpath), I can go through every position, but it’s ‘bring what you bring’.
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“Rugby does require structure, and we play in a very specific way, but there’s no limitation. If we train it, we do it; and you’ve got to trust your players; we have some incredible players at this club.
“When you compile a squad, you look for different things. If you sign four players who play exactly the same in each position, why did you sign them? You have to have variety, and back your players to be themselves.”
‘They’re both available’
Elsewhere, Quinn Roux and Tom Dunn have both missed some action due to suspension, but are available for this weekend’s clash at the Rec.
“Suspension-wise, they’re both available,” confirmed van Graan. “We’ll see where we get to on Friday, it’s only Tuesday now, so there are many things to happen from a training point of view in the week.
“We’ll see where we are come Friday at 12.”
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