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Finn Russell\u2019s latest World Cup disappointment has not dented his enthusiasm to play for Scotland as the talismanic stand-off declared he has no intention of making himself unavailable for the national team any time soon.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old was gutted at suffering a second successive pool-stage exit in France in October, but he told the PA news agency his desire to pull on the dark blue jersey remains as strong as ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not at all,\u201d he said when asked if his appetite for international rugby had been diminished by his World Cup experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anything it\u2019s given me a bit more of an appetite to get back into it with the national team again and try to get a few more wins and try to win something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow Scotland star Stuart Hogg retired from rugby in the summer aged 31 but Russell, who is just a few months younger than the former full-back, aims to still be operating at a level that allows him to go to his fourth World Cup in 2027.<\/p>\n
The fly-half, who recently joined Bath following five years in France with Racing 92, will turn 35 a week before the showpiece in Australia begins.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully,\u201d he said. \u201cAge-wise, I\u2019ll be able to make that. It\u2019s just about whether or not I\u2019m playing well enough, so hopefully I am. I\u2019ve got no inclination to finish up any time soon internationally.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s World Cup, in which Scotland were well beaten by South Africa and Ireland, cut deep for Russell.<\/p>\n
Instead of taking a holiday immediately afterwards, he chose to throw himself straight into club rugby with new side Bath, making his debut as a substitute against Newcastle just a week after the demoralising defeat by the Irish.<\/p>\n
But as one of Scotland\u2019s vice-captains, he has been in contact with head coach Gregor Townsend to dissect the tournament with a view to improving for the upcoming Six Nations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came straight into something new after the World Cup so that didn\u2019t allow me to reflect on it as much as others might have,\u201d he said. \u201cI think that\u2019s fine though. It\u2019s always in the back of your mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a call with Gregor just to chat and give my opinion on how we could have done better at the World Cup, how we could develop, and how we could use it as a learning curve for both of us and the whole team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were both chatting about how we thought the World Cup went, where we can grow and develop from it, how we can get better as a team and us both as individuals \u2013 me as a player and him as a coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t like we were blaming each other or anything like that, it was just a good conversation to get us going in the right direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe style of rugby we\u2019re playing is very exciting and we\u2019re scoring tries but obviously against Ireland in particular we had a disappointing result.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have to address a few things from the World Cup that didn\u2019t go as planned and we\u2019ll have to grow as a group and get better but I\u2019m looking forward to the Six Nations coming round and trying to achieve something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russell himself is in a good place. Following five years in Paris, he and his young family have enjoyed \u201ca very easy transition\u201d to life in Bath over the past couple of months.<\/p>\n
After starting seven of the in-form Gallagher Premiership side\u2019s last eight matches, the stand-off feels fit and fresh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m feeling good,\u201d he said, speaking ahead of Saturday\u2019s Champions Cup trip to Cardiff. \u201cI came straight back after the World Cup and played the next week so I didn\u2019t have a week to dwell on the World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted to get on to the next thing and get a new focus straight away.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter a few games, I had a week off and went to New York with my partner so it was nice to get away and relax.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though the World Cup was frustrating, it\u2019s been good to get back in here and get some good results.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a new challenge with a new team and I\u2019m feeling fresh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve settled in very smoothly, easily, quickly, which has been brilliant and rugby-wise we\u2019ve been playing well. So far, so good. I\u2019m enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the usual club and country matters, the prospect of a third British and Irish Lions tour will soon be on Russell\u2019s horizon.<\/p>\n
The Scottish superstar went to New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021 and is a likely contender to be involved again in Australia the summer after next.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something I know is coming up and it will be at the back of my mind but my main focus for now is doing as well as I can with Bath and Scotland and then we\u2019ll get to the Lions when it comes round,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone in the UK and Ireland will have that as their goal after the World Cup but it\u2019s quite a while away. I just need to do my job for Bath and Scotland.\u201d<\/p>\n