Twickers thriller toughens Russell up for Lions role

FINN RUSSELL says Bath's run to Premiership glory has got him battle-hardened for the Lions tour.

- by ADAM HATHAWAY

The fly-half was a key figure yet again as his side ended a 29-year title drought with a Twickenham win over Leicester when they were taken to the brink.

The triumph was Bath's sixth knockout victory out of six in the Premiership and European Challenge Cup, with Russell involved in five in this treble-winning season.

And the Scotsman, who joins up with the British & Irish Lions in Dublin today, insists the run of wins in games with everything on the line will stand him in good stead for the tour to Australia later this month.

Russell said: “When you get to these moments and it is a knockout game, it is very different, it is a one-off.