"He's The Best 10 In The World " - Kenny Logan Backs Finn Russell For Lions
"He's The Best 10 In The World " - Kenny Logan Backs Finn Russell For Lions
Ex-Scotland star Kenny Logan backs Finn Russell as the Lions' top fly-half, calling him a "game-changer" and the best No.10 in the world on his day.
In an exclusive interview with OLBG, former Scotland international Kenny Logan has endorsed Finn Russell as the ideal fly-half for the British and Irish Lions' upcoming tour of Australia, positioning him as a formidable rival to England's Marcus Smith.
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"Finn Russell is a game-changer," Logan stated. "When you speak to the Bath players, when he's in the team, it's a different team. When he's not, it's nowhere near as good."
Logan highlighted the contrasting styles of Russell and Smith, noting that while Smith excels in personal ball-handling and making breaks, Russell's strength lies in his unpredictable playmaking.
"Finn does it all with the ball," Logan said. "You don't see Finn break much, but he puts the ball in space. He makes teams panic because they don't know if the ball's going to go 30 yards, two yards, 40 yards or if he's going to kick it 20 yards or three yards."
Russell's diverse skill set and maturity have not gone unnoticed.
"He’s got such a varied game," Logan added. "He is a very mature player now, a very mature individual. He’s a world-class 10. He's brilliant to watch. He plays with a smile on his face, even when he makes a mistake."
The former winger emphasized the positive impact of Russell's demeanor on his teammates.
"Good or bad, he just enjoys playing," Logan said. "That’s what you see when you watch the game. His enjoyment is rubbing off on a lot of the Scottish players. They're enjoying it. And it's like anything in life, if you're enjoying what you're doing, you've got that extra spring in your step, you feel better; things come off."
Logan firmly believes in Russell's standing on the global stage.
"I think he's got to be the best on his day," he said. "He's pretty consistent now. He's vice-captain of Scotland; he's shown a lot more maturity, and he's a very consistent rugby player. He’s the best 10 in the world, I reckon."
Looking ahead to the Lions tour, Logan acknowledged the heightened competition among players.
He also noted the added pressure and motivation that comes with a Lions tour.
"The players are pushing themselves this time round," Logan said. "You won't need Gregor Townsend to push them. They're doing it themselves, how they're playing. We're going into the Lions year, so there's always an extra edge. After every game, people are talking about what the Lions team would look like and who has put their hand up.
"It adds another layer for the players, another layer of pressure. These players all want to play for the Lions. Andy Farrell will want teams that have got that edge and players that have got that edge, and Scotland have shown that in the last couple of years."
Reflecting on Scotland's recent performances, Logan remarked, "This team has gone to England and won. If Scotland do well against Ireland that puts those players right in the front foot because the Irish boys are going to have that little edge because of Farrell being their coach."
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of peaking at the right time.
"You've got to put doubt in his mind that these players are better, and they're peaking at the right time," he said.
As the Lions' tour approaches, the debate over the starting fly-half position intensifies, with Russell and Smith emerging as the leading contenders.
Logan's endorsement adds a compelling perspective to the discussion, highlighting Russell's unique abilities and his potential to lead the Lions in Australia.
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