{"id":66807,"date":"2025-05-01T22:28:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T22:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/66807\/"},"modified":"2025-05-01T22:28:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T22:28:10","slug":"finn-russell-unfazed-by-lions-furore-says-johann-van-graan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/66807\/","title":{"rendered":"Finn Russell unfazed by Lions furore, says Johann van Graan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"FinnFinn Russell’s Bath take on Edinburgh at the semi-final stage of EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday afternoon. Image: \u00a9 Craig Watson –
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IF Finn Russell were an ordinary mortal, he might well have spent the last fortnight fretting futilely about factors beyond his control. Instead, as the Bath fly-half prepares to face Edinburgh in Saturday\u2019s Challenge Cup semi-final at the Hive, it would appear he is remaining as serenely laidback as ever.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the eyes of many, the appointment of Russell\u2019s erstwhile on-field rival and fierce critic Johnny Sexton<\/strong> as a British & Irish Lions assistant coach has called into question the Scotland stand-off\u2019s chances of selection for this summer\u2019s tour to Australia, and provoked a lot of worry on his behalf. Russell went on the last Lions tour and Sexton did not \u2013 a choice which the Irishman said he could not understand. His own omission \u201ckills me to this day\u201d, Sexton said last year.<\/p>\n

We will find out next Thursday, when the Lions squad is announced, what impact \u2013 if any \u2013 the inclusion of Sexton in the coaching team has had on Russell\u2019s chances. Speaking earlier today, however, Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan<\/strong> insisted that his star player \u2013 and indeed the club as a whole \u2013 remained unfazed by the controversy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think one of the key bits around Finn is he\u2019s just always himself,\u201d said the South African, who is now in his third season with the English Premiership side. \u201cHe\u2019s very focused on Bath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember my very first conversation with Finn: he said that he absolutely loves rugby and he loves playing. So if it\u2019s up to him, he\u2019ll play every single minute of every single game. As I\u2019ve said before, he\u2019s one of the ultimate team men and he\u2019ll just get it done, whatever\u2019s the most important for the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a Lions point of view, we as a group said you\u2019ve got to play well at club level and international level. But it\u2019s not something that we or any player can control.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be amazing if we get some players from our club playing for Allianz. If we don\u2019t, then we don\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s just been himself. From my side, I think from a consistency point of view, he\u2019s once again one of the best tens in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russell seems certain to start against Edinburgh on Saturday, while two of his Scottish team-mates \u2013 Pierre Schoeman<\/strong> and Jamie Ritchie<\/strong> \u2013 appear just as sure to line up against him after sitting out last weekend\u2019s URC draw at Zebre. Van Graan coached Schoeman and his older brother much earlier in their career and is looking forward to renewing acquaintances.<\/p>\n

\u201cHusky, as I call him \u2013 I don\u2019t know what the Scots call him!,\u201d he said of the fans\u2019 favourite. \u201cBoth Juan Schoeman<\/strong>, who was here at Bath, and Pierre and I all went to the same school. They are obviously much younger than I am, but I coached Pierre when he was still at school so I\u2019ve known him for a very long time. I know the family pretty well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got a soft spot for him. He\u2019s a phenomenal player, not only for the Bulls in his earlier years but for what he\u2019s done for Edinburgh and specifically Scotland. In my view, he\u2019s become one of Scotland\u2019s best players and I\u2019m sure if he\u2019s selected for Edinburgh this weekend he will perform for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got mad moments in him, but he\u2019s always had that. If I think back to the Bulls game a few weeks ago, he was the guy who got the last poach. He\u2019s developed his game so much and he\u2019s known for his ball-carrying ability.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a great human being and, as I say, I\u2019ve got a soft spot for him and he\u2019s certainly become a very good international rugby player.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Bath travel north today having won their last eight games, many by large scores and in some style. No winning run goes on forever, but Van Graan thinks the key to extending this one a bit longer is to maintain the self-critical spirit that runs throughout the West Country club.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a saying at the club: we go back to zero on Monday,\u201d he explained. \u201cSo whether we\u2019ve won or we\u2019ve lost, we review the game, take our learnings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we win, it\u2019s never too high. When we lose, it\u2019s never too low. And I think sports have taught us that a week is a long time.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, control the things that we can and try and get better.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lost one or two line-outs close to the goal line last week, so we want to improve there. We conceded a try with a yellow card and we\u2019re very proud of our performances when we are down a man, so there\u2019s potentially something to improve there.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then it\u2019s acknowledging the things that we\u2019ve done well, because in my view, we\u2019re playing good rugby. We\u2019re playing an all-round game, very good set-piece.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur defence has been immaculate throughout the season. Yes, we\u2019ve conceded some tries, but we\u2019ve still got the best defensive record in the Premiership.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then the thing that\u2019s impressed me the most is the willingness of our ball-carriers to get the ball in their hands. As a coach, that\u2019s all you can ask for.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll win some games, you\u2019ll lose some games.As the head of rugby, the thing I\u2019m concerned about is are we getting better? Are we doing what we say we\u2019re going to do? This playing group has given us some amazing moments already this season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bath have already won the Premiership Rugby Cup this season. They are favourites to win the Challenge Cup \u2013 Lyon and Racing 92 are the other clubs through to the last four \u2013 and they are safely through to the league play-offs. If Edinburgh are to deny them the second leg of that possible treble, they will surely have to do more to put Russell off his stride than all that Lions hullabaloo has managed.<\/p>\n

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Hamish Watson to return for at least one more season<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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