Tandy aims to solve Finn Russell problem

It is a question that occupies defence coaches across the world when they face Scotland.

How do you stop fly-half Finn Russell?

Wales head coach Steve Tandy, who is also currently combining the defence role, will have that job on Saturday.

Tandy will have the benefit of knowing Russell better than most having been his defence coach at Scotland between 2019 and 2025.

“He was brilliant to work with and I loved it,” said Tandy.

“He was an amazing character. Both sides of the ball, defence and attack, I loved working with him.

Russell, 33, produced an outstanding display as Scotland swept aside England 31-20 in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield last weekend and will be seeking to inflict more Six Nations damage on winless Wales.

Tandy will be hoping that does not happen at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

“We’ve got to trust ourselves in what we’re trying to build,” said Tandy.

“We need to be making sure we stay connected around the defence and are not giving him easy options or getting too narrow because he will find the soft spot.

“He will have moments in the game and we are aware of what Finn and the rest of the Scottish backline can do. It is a British and Irish Lions backline.

Wales prop Archie Griffin is Russell’s team-mate at Bath so witnesses what the Scotland maestro can do every day.

“He practises every moment that you see on the field,” said Griffin.

“He’s doing it in training so he can pull it out whenever.

“At Bath, he’s brought some direction to the team from where we were before he came.

“He leads a lot of the attack and he’s always looking for you to jump out of the line.

“It’s a lot of patience, seeing what happens, and then reading off that if somebody tries to do something on their own or goes out of system.