Shed-shushing is Finn Russell’s go-to move but I had my concerns says Scotland man

Bayliss and Finn Russell are the two Bath representatives in the Scotland squad and a third players from the Rec, Cam Redpath, has been selected for the A international against an Italy XV in Rieti on Friday.

Russell’s arrival in summer 2023 was the catalyst for the Bath revival. They reached the Premiership final in his first season, losing to Northampton Saints, and went one better last year, beating Leicester Tigers at Twickenham to lift the trophy.

Bayliss, Russell and Redpath all played in the final as Bath ended a 29-year wait to become champions of England.

They’ve continued where they left off and are currently riding high in the Prem and through to the last 16 of the Champions Cup. Their most recent success was last Friday’s 30-26 win over Gloucester at Kingsholm. Russell kicked two late penalties to wrest the game back in Bath’s favour, then ‘shushed’ the Shed. It’s not the first time the Scotland stand-off has performed the cheeky gesture in front of Gloucester’s notoriously vocal supporters and Bayliss admitted he thought Russell might have gone too soon.

Silencing the Shed

“That seems to be his go-to move now,” said the back-row forward. “To be honest, after the last kick, they still had four minutes and I was hoping he'd not done it too early! But no, we managed to hang on, which was nice.”

“They played very well,” added Bayliss. “They've been struggling of late, but were brilliant against us on Friday night. So, very pleasing, to go away and get a result there. Finn sort of saw us right in the last 10 minutes and kicked a couple of crucial goals.

“There's a lot of history in that game. Ever since I've been at Bath, that's always been a game you sort of look at and you know it's going to be a tough one. No matter how each of you are standing in the league at the time, it kind of becomes irrelevant because there's always a bit of added emotion in that game.”

Bountiful back-row options

The win leaves Bath two points behind leaders Northampton in second place as the Prem goes into cold storage for the duration of the Six Nations. Bayliss and Russell joined up with the Scotland squad this week as preparations began for the opening match against Italy on February 7.

“It's not a case of Finn comes in and we just play the way we play at Bath here because it wouldn't necessarily work,” said Bayliss.

“The types of players, the way we want to play, isn't exactly the same. But I think if we can add any sort of mental stuff, any strategies that we use down there that could potentially help them, then I think it's those small conversations and trying to implement some of our strategies up here.

“But to be honest, I think the way that things are run up here and the way that we train, how competitive everyone is, I think it's second to none.”

Townsend isn’t short of back-row options but Bayliss would like to think his form for Bath during this rich period for the club will help his cause.

“Look, it's great down at Bath,” he said. “We've been great the last couple of years. The system works really well for us down there and I just really love playing the way that we play. If that puts me in a better stead to get caps up here, then that's great.

“But I'm under no illusion that with the competition in the back row and the team, I've got to come up here and perform on the training pitch and that's how I'll get my chances. So, yeah, I mean, obviously, I’d rather us do well down at the club and that catches eyes. But look, it's all about the work we put in on the pitch to put your hand up.”

Bayliss was used off the bench in Scotland’s autumn internationals against New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga and there is plenty of competition for the flanker berths. Bayliss tends to play at six where Matt Fagerson and Jamie Ritchie are also vying to start. Liam McConnell, Edinburgh’s young blindside, has had to leave the squad because of a rib injury but there are strong options right across the back row, with Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Magnus Bradbury and Freddy Douglas all pushing for places.

“I mean, look, it's very competitive, especially the back row, but the squad as a whole at the moment is full of talent,” said Bayliss, who has been capped 14 times. “Younger guys, more experienced guys. It's brilliant and that's what you want.

“It really pushes myself, pushes teammates to really sort of drive for that shirt. And when you do get your opportunity, you've got to take it, which I think is something that we all thrive on.

“It’s been like that my whole career. I'm 28 now, but I remember when I was 18 or 19, and the likes of Taulupe Faletau and Francois Louw were at Bath to compete with. It's always been the same, but I've always loved it, I've always relished it. And I think you learn so much from each other.

“It's a really competitive group in the [Scotland] back row, but also we just want to help each other get better. And the ultimate goal is to do well as a team. So if we can contribute in any way to that, then that's the final goal for us.”