Should Scotland keep Russell in reserve against South Africa?

Should Scotland keep Russell in reserve against South Africa?Image source, SNSImage caption, Tom Jordan made his first Scotland start at fly-half in the win over ArgentinaByColin MoffatBBC Sport ScotlandPublished16 minutes agoShould Scotland leave star man Finn Russell on the bench for next week’s visit to South Africa?That’s what former international Peter Wright is suggesting after Gregor Townsend’s side won a thrilling Nations Championship opener away to Argentina without the influential fly-half.With Russell nursing a calf problem, Tom Jordan started at 10 in Cordoba and turned in an impressive performance, as did his replacement, Fergus Burke.Both men kicked three conversions in the 47-38 victory and both pulled the strings effectively in a largely controlled display, skewed by two late scores for the hosts.”Tom Jordan did really well in terms of his calmness,” former Scotland captain Lisa Martin told BBC Radio Scotland. “It was a really mature performance.”Then Fergus Burke comes on and is spotting gaps and using his pace to get to those edges.”It was really good to see we have another way of playing.”There was maybe a bit more structure, less of the Finn-esque play. It’s good that we don’t have to be so heavily reliant on that one player in that linchpin position.”Of course, the 33-year-old Russell remains a key creative force for Scotland, having scored 505 points in 94 appearances and bewildering opponents with off-the-cuff moments of magic.”If he’s fit, he’s going to be involved,” former prop Wright mentioned of Russell while looking forward to the challenge of the Springboks in their own backyard.”I’d start Jordan and bring him on with 30 minutes to go when defenders are tired. That would be a curveball.”In the World Cup, South Africa focused on Finn and stopped him from playing and we didn’t have another answer.”In that 2023 encounter in Marseille, Scotland trailed 6-3 at half-time after a Russell penalty, but two quick tries took the game away from Townsend’s side, who were suffocated by pressure and did not get on the scoreboard again.Russell kicked all of Scotland’s points in the 32-15 loss to South Africa at Murrayfield in November 2024, with the visitors pulling away in the last half hour.The world champions were at their formidable best as they ran in seven tries against England on Saturday, but Scotland can take heart from matching that tally in Argentina.Scotland beat Argentina in 12-try thriller