Bath are a side transformed since the Scottish playmaker returned from the World Cup to weave his magic on the Premiership.
Johann van Graan’s side are second to Sale Sharks only on points difference in the Premiership table and have a first Champions Cup win under their belts in nearly four years.
Russell hasn’t been the only contributory factor but his confident presence on the pitch seems to have brought the best out of those around him; it is no coincidence that captain and scrum-half Ben Spencer and Ollie Lawrence won back-toback Premiership Player of the Month awards before the European campaign began with victory against Ulster.
As the father of a one year-old daughter, it seems moving to Bath has come at just the right time for Russell and the two parties – player and club – appear to be the perfect fit.
However, the 31-yearold admits that there were some initial misgivings about the style of rugby that he might be asked to play under a South African coach known for a more conservative outlook than his.
“He (van Graan) was at Munster before who kicked the ball a lot, so I was a bit sceptical about how it would be with me coming here,” Russell admitted.
“I just asked is that the way you want to play with Bath because if that is the way then I am probably not best suited to that style of rugby.
“He just said that he is always open to ideas and bringing in Lee Blackett shows the way he is looking to play with him being such a good attack coach.
This story is from the December 17, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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This story is from the December 17, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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