There will be no Finn Russell to torment England for Scotland as he has the last two years on Saturday, but there has been “dialogue” with the absent player and the head coach Gregor Townsend, according to assistant Steve Tandy.
The defensive specialist said he was not privy to their conversation but confirmed that Russell wouldn’t join up with Scotland for their preparations for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup game, with the Scots defending the old trophy for the third year in succession.
“Finn is not with us, I know Gregor has had some dialogue with him,” said the Welshman, who joined the Scots at the eleventh hour before the championship on Matt Taylor’s departure to Australia.
“Gregor is after a lot of cohesion which you have seen with the boys who have come in. Finn won’t be involved at the minute and all I know is there has been some dialogue, I don’t know anymore than that.”
It was always likely, with the Scots treating the first two games of the championship as a unit, that anyone who did not feature against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday or the two weeks leading up to that game would play any part in the England game.
A host of injured players such as Sam Skinner, who returned to action for Exeter on Saturday, have also been left with their clubs, and no new players have been added to the original training squad.
Meanwhile Tandy had just a month and only barely five training sessions to get his new defensive philosophy over to the Scots, but was pleased with the way they reacted on Saturday.
“It wouldn’t have been a smart move to tear everything up in a month, there were a lot of good principles in play and a lot of good defenders in the team,” said the Welshman, who ended a spell with the Waratahs in Australia six months early to take his chance to coach in international rugby.
“The boys have been excellent. They have responded to every subtle change that has been made. The energy in the group is very positive and they want to learn.
“I’m very fortunate to be able to coach a group like this, they are very stimulated – they don’t just sit there and nod their heads, they ask questions.”
Tandy might have wondered what he got himself into with the turmoil of the first week in camp, but he laughed that off suggestion.
“I’ve been at Ospreys, the Waratahs, you think you’re the only ones with these issues but we’re not, this is everywhere,” he said.
“I’ve got enough to worry about with getting the defence right and working with the players so as an assistant, you’re there to support Gregor and the team and that’s my role.
“When Gregor got in contact and I saw the group, I looked at footage and saw the players, I saw it was an amazing opportunity and I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to coach an international team in Scotland. It was too good a chance to miss.”
He watched England’s defeat to France but thinks they will be gunning to hit back at Murrayfield.
“You don’t get to a World Cup final without being a fantastic team,” he said. “But we have a good idea about what England are going to bring so it’s making sure we’re prepared and mentally and physically, we’re going to be right for Saturday.”