Finn Russell on Scotland v Italy

Scotland co-captain Finn Russell previews the Six Nations opener against Italy

Transcript

00:00How are you all feeling?

00:03We're feeling good. The structure of our training is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and yesterday off.

00:09It's good getting back out there and throwing a few finishing touches on the plays and the strategy for tomorrow.

00:16It's been a great week we've had. The clarity is there and the role knowledge is there.

00:22I think we just need to arrive tomorrow with the right mindset and go out and get our job done.

00:27Nobody needs any reminding of how dangerous Italy are after Rome last year.

00:31You've played against them a lot over your career. Is this the strongest Italy side you think you'll have faced?

00:36Yeah, I believe it's the strongest that I've faced.

00:39I think the first game of the tournament is tough for everyone because you've not seen what's going to happen.

00:44When you get further into the tournament you get a feel for how teams are trying to play.

00:48I think over the past few years Italy have always had something different, something up their sleeves.

00:52So it's going to be interesting to see if they have anything for tomorrow and how we adapt to that.

00:56But for me it's the best, strongest Italian team that I've faced.

00:59It's been a long time for Scotland to do something in the Six Nations.

01:03They've always come in with a lot of optimism and it's not quite happened.

01:07You were desperate more than most I'm sure to make it happen.

01:10What can you tell us? Why do you think this year could be different?

01:14I think the last few years we've come in with some expectations and with the group that we've got it's quite right to have those expectations.

01:24I think like I said a few minutes ago that the clarity has been done this week.

01:28I think we've come in with a real good mindset this tournament.

01:30Which in my opinion has been different to the last few or any of the ones that I've been involved in which is great to see.

01:35But I think we've got to focus on now just getting tomorrow right.

01:40Depending on the outcome of tomorrow we'll get back on Monday and we'll reassess where we are and go again.

01:45That's been a point we've been trying to drive this week of not looking at winning the tournament just yet.

01:51That's obviously the goal for every team in it.

01:53But there's a long way to go before you get that title obviously.

01:57We need to get the training right, we need to get each game right as it comes.

02:01I think if we're to win tomorrow and the media starts talking Scotland up the expectations go up a little bit.

02:08We can't let that affect us.

02:09We've just got to control what we can and make sure that all the outside noise doesn't get into the camp.

02:14We just focus on our job and stay grounded and stay true to what we're trying to achieve here.