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Finn Russell believes Owen Farrell could flourish at Racing 92 as the Scotland fly-half eyes a potential British and Irish Lions reunion with his fellow playmaker in Australia next summer.
Russell spent five seasons at the Parisian club before joining Bath last year, with Farrell now set to take the reins in the French capital after a sensational move from Saracens.
Although the England fly-half is ineligible for selection by Steve Borthwick when he plays overseas, he could be considered for a fourth Lions cap when Andy Farrell selects his touring squad next summer.
Russell spent time working alongside England’s leading runscorer in New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021 but is yet to feature in a full Lions Test alongside Farrell.
The 31-year-old, speaking at a TNT Sports event ahead of the new Gallagher Premiership season, believes the contrasting strengths of the two teams would complement each other well in partnership if the opportunity arose next year.
“We’ve always had an interesting relationship when we’ve played against each other,” Russell said. “It was almost face-to-face at first, and recently, even before the Lions, it’s become a friendship.
“It’s still me against you but we could have a little laugh doing it, have a little fun. It shows how much he’s relaxed in his mindset.
“I think we have different visions of the game, so there would be a little bit of conflict there, but I think we would be good enough friends to get along and find common ground. Potentially, what I do better than him, he would do [other] “There are better things than me and we will have to find a balance between us. But he is a brilliant player and I would love to play with him.”
Russell’s time at Racing 92 included a run to the Champions Cup final in 2020, but he was unable to help the club win a trophy during his time in Paris.
The club finished sixth last season in their first campaign under former England manager Stuart Lancaster, and will once again boast one of the best squads in the Top 14 with Farrell bolstering their fly-halves.
“He’ll fit in really well,” Russell said of his No. 10 successor at La Défense Arena. “I got on really well with him in 2021 with the Lions. I’d heard he was very focused and intense, but I didn’t see any of that. I thought he was pretty relaxed. I had a laugh with him and we got on really well. If he’s got that mindset out there, he’ll be fine.”
“It’s a long championship. I don’t think he’s getting used to its length. You have to change your mindset. But I think Stuart Lancaster will manage the players differently to the French coaches. Lancaster and Farrell already know each other and will get on very well.
“The Racing team was probably in a transition period last year. There are some brilliant players there: Nolann [Le Garrec] at 9, Owen Farrell at 10, Gael Fickou, Josua Tuisova, Max Spring at fullback. Faz could be the mix that brings it all together.
“I hope he learns the language because it will help him a lot in terms of communication. It’s quite easy when you get there to speak English with the English players and have informal conversations with the other boys. He’s got one of the best brains in the game so I hope he can get his message across and motivate the boys.”
Russell’s Bath open their Premiership season on Friday 20 September when they welcome champions Northampton to the Rec in a rematch of last season’s final.
Another strong season for club and country should see him earn selection in Farrell’s Lions squad next summer, with the Scot well placed to go into the series against the Wallabies as first-choice fly-half.
It would be a first proper tour for Russell, who was belatedly called up as one of Warren Gatland’s infamous ‘Geography Six’ in 2017 before taking part in a 2021 series played without fans in South Africa due to the Covid pandemic.
“[In 2017]We knew from the start that we would be on the pitch for 10 days doing the midweek games and then we would go home. It was a different mindset. You haven’t been there for the preparation, you’re in the squad and in the group, but it’s very different.
“In 2021 you were there from the beginning, you had all the games and the preparation, the midweek games, you had the friendships and relationships to build throughout the series and you’re all on your way to getting that series win at the end.
“I loved that tour, even though it was during Covid. It was an incredible experience, but if I could do one with the fans, that’s something I would love to do. To experience it fully and go on tour with the fans, be a part of it again, that would be a full Lions tour.”
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