The Scot’s introduction sparked a turgid Test series into life and he kept pushing for victory until the very last minute
The best script writers always give fly-halves the leading role. It would have seemed unfathomable not so long ago that Morné Steyn would kick a late penalty to win the series against the British & Irish Lions 12 years on from having done precisely the same thing, and equally Finn Russell seemed destined to play just a watching brief only a few weeks ago.
All credit to the Springboks and Steyn for once more displaying icy veins when the pressure was at its greatest, but Russell’s performance in this nerve-shredding decider was equally significant and for large spells it looked as if he might just be the star turn. This has been a series in which taking risks has at times seemed like a serious offence so it does not feel like hyperbole to say the mercurial Scotland fly-half almost single-handedly brought it to life. The turgid nature of these Tests has been a turn-off but, when Russell is on the pitch and in the mood, it always pays to watch.
Related: South Africa 19-16 British & Irish Lions: third Test player ratings
Continue reading...