Six Nations: A battle of Fin(n)s in England vs Scotland; Wales vow to play courageous vs Eire in Cardiff | Rugby Union Information

We hear from all 4 camps forward of a bumper Six Nations spherical of Saturday fixtures between all nations concerned on the summer season’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia: England, Eire, Scotland and Wales…

Lawrence: No stress on Fin Smith to outshine Scotland’s Russell at Twickenham

England centre Ollie Lawrence insists Fin Smith will not be underneath stress to outshine “world-class” Scotland fly-half Finn Russell throughout a pivotal Calcutta Cup conflict at Twickenham.

An intriguing subplot to Saturday’s Six Nations showdown is the battle at No 10 as Check rookie Smith seeks to construct on his starring function within the thrilling 26-25 win over France on his full worldwide debut.

Rival out-half Russell, who has recovered from a head harm to function at Allianz Stadium Twickenham, is vastly extra skilled and regarded by many because the main candidate to start out for the British and Irish Lions in Australia this summer season, dwell on Sky Sports activities.

Lawrence has shut hyperlinks with each males, having been a task mannequin to England team-mate Smith at former membership Worcester earlier than Russell joined his present aspect Tub in 2023.

“I do not actually suppose there’s an excessive amount of stress on Fin; definitely we aren’t placing stress on him to step up or something like that,” mentioned Lawrence.

“The best way he performed in opposition to France and managed the sport put us in the suitable areas of the sector. He managed to arrange that attempt [for Elliot Daly] on the finish, which was testomony to how he is come on as a participant.

“Finn Russell is a world-class 10, an incredible participant and I’ve received an enormous quantity of respect for him. However equally I am undoubtedly not taking a look at Fin and saying he has to match the opposite Finn in the course of the recreation.

“He’ll do his factor, he is a assured lad and we’ll again him all the best way. He has a lot extra potential and a lot extra to point out in an England jersey.”

Smith, 22, has one other likelihood to tug the strings for England following head coach Steve Borthwick’s choice to maintain fellow fly-half Marcus Smith at full-back.

“Typically Finn [Russell] is in his personal world and he could make issues occur that not all people else can see,” Lawrence added.

“One in every of his strengths is that he can create one thing out of nothing. He is a ability participant, he is received an incredible passing recreation, nice kicking recreation.

“He can do issues off the cuff however he is ready to execute issues he is already seen footage of, that groups have finished earlier than and he is world class at doing it.

“It will be a problem going up in opposition to him but it surely was the identical with (Antoine) Dupont, one other world-class participant. In the event you put stress on them then you may drive them to make errors and that is the plan on Saturday.”

Townsend: Russell the important thing man for Scotland vs England

Russell has a “massive function” to play after being handed match as Scotland search a report fifth straight Calcutta Cup victory in opposition to England, in accordance with head coach Gregor Townsend.

The fly-half was substituted with a concussion in the course of the defeat to Eire two weeks in the past after clashing heads with team-mate Darcy Graham, who regardless of having noticed a 12-day concussion protocol is not going to play at Twickenham on Saturday.

Townsend has been crushed solely as soon as by England throughout his tenure and will likely be seeking to his No 10 Russell to encourage a response after the frustration of the loss to Eire.

Scotland have gained the final 4 Six Nations conferences between the perimeters, together with a 30-21 victory in 2024, however sit fourth on this 12 months’s standings after two matches and face a doubtlessly campaign-defining recreation in opposition to Borthwick’s aspect.

“They have been actually good video games [against England], I believe they have been open and once they have been open your 10 has received an enormous function to play in that,” mentioned Townsend. “[Russell] has loved these video games which have gone to the wire as effectively.

“It is a very powerful fixture. Enjoying at Twickenham is at all times one among our hardest video games, and lately we have on the suitable aspect of the consequence however they have been very shut video games and we have needed to play very effectively to get these wins.

“I am unsure if there was a worry issue [around Twickenham], only a place that over historical past has been very powerful for us as a result of England are at all times a powerful group.

“This group of gamers have had the expertise of successful at Twickenham which might help as you put together for the sport, however the actuality is what occurs in 80 minutes.”

Sherratt: Wales will not die questioning in opposition to Eire

Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt needs his group to be courageous and never “die questioning” in opposition to Six Nations title favourites Eire in Cardiff on Saturday.

Wales start life after Warren Gatland with Cardiff boss Sherratt taking the reins for 3 video games solely – Eire, Scotland at Murrayfield after which England in Cardiff.

A run of 14 successive Check defeats has contributed closely to Wales being written off as 25/1 no-hopers by some bookmakers when Triple Crown-chasing Eire arrive on the Principality Stadium.

“I need the gamers to be courageous. In the event that they see area, I do not need us to die questioning,” Sherratt mentioned. “If there may be an error, there may be an error. I can coach that within the week. It’s having a system that we follow.

“I have been within the recreation lengthy sufficient now, I’m not going to simply say exit and have a crack, as that will get messy. We’ve got labored actually exhausting within the week on how we discover and hold form.

“There will likely be 15 gamers on the sector which might be determined to signify their nation. That’s all we’re centered on, not any chat from outdoors of camp.

“It’s a recreation of rugby in the end – a recreation of rugby with 80,000 folks watching it, and much more curiosity – however once you boil it down it’s nonetheless simply the identical as a membership recreation.

“Will probably be quicker, there may be extra stress, the collisions will likely be larger, however that phrase ‘alternative’ is the one we used once we have been chatting with the gamers. We do not need them to get slowed down with every part across the recreation.

“I’ve instructed the gamers the overwhelming recommendation I’ve had is to be genuine and benefit from the expertise. I mentioned I’d give them the identical recommendation.”

Wales-linked Eire interim head coach Easterby: Eire function my dream job

Simon Easterby insists he’s dedicated to Eire in response to studies he’s a contender to take over from departed Wales boss Gatland.

Easterby is overseeing Eire whereas Andy Farrell prepares for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour and has to this point impressed by claiming emphatic victories over England and Scotland.

Easterby, who lives in Swansea and performed for and coached the Scarlets, heads to the Principality Stadium amid hypothesis he’s an choice to succeed Gatland.

Nonetheless, the 49-year-old says he has but to be approached by the Welsh Rugby Union.

“I like what I do right here. For me it is a dream job,” Eire’s interim head coach mentioned. “I have been on this place with the group for a very long time and I am very lucky with the folks I get to work with, each administration and gamers.

“Hypothesis is strictly that – it is hypothesis and never one thing I can management. Proper now that is my solely focus.

“What occurs sooner or later… in a 12 months’s time you might lose your job and we all know in sport it is pretty fluid round folks shifting from factor to factor. However no matter is happening, I’ve had no contact with the WRU.

“For me, it is all weapons blazing in the direction of Cardiff on Saturday and ensuring that me and the opposite coaches put together the group.”

The Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol rematch will likely be dwell on Saturday February 22 on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace. E book now!