Finn Russell: Bath need to improve to contend for Champions Cup

Russell says Bath are still trying to find their balance after attack coach Lee Blackett left for England at the start of the season.

Martin Gleeson, who led England’s attack between 2021 and 2023, has replaced Blackett and analysis by the Times, external shows Bath have relied on a forward-based pick-and-go power game since his arrival.

However, Russell says Bath have reverted to a wider style in recent weeks.

“Since the November Tests, we’ve spoken more about playing a little bit more expansively, like we used to do last year and the year before,” he said

“Lee and ‘Gleese’ are different attack coaches and have different views on how we can run an attack shape, so it’s kind of figuring that out, how we can adjust and get the best from the team and what works best for us.

“In the last three games we’ve probably got slightly wider off 10 and we’ve probably had more and more joy with that.”

Edinburgh hooker Ewan Ashman has joked that while Bath and Scotland flanker Josh Bayliss is “a nice guy”, he is determined to get bragging rights, external over Russell and fellow Scot Cameron Redpath when the teams meet.

“I would imagine there’ll be a couple of late shots and getting held on the ground and a bit of that that goes on,” said Russell.

“It’s always good fun. I’ve already text [Scotland wing] Duhan [van der Merwe] to say ‘just be ready for the balls in the air’!”