Finn Russell took 'worst conversion ever' – he had an absolute nightmare
04/23/2025 07:50 AM
In a memorable moment from 2017, Scotland’s Finn Russell found himself in the spotlight for what many considered a contender for the worst conversion ever during a match against France in Paris.
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Initially, it was widely believed that referee Jaco Peyper had urged the Glasgow fly-half to hurry up his kick as time for the conversion had run out. This led to a barrage of criticism directed at the South African official on Scottish rugby Twitter, with fans claiming they could hear Peyper pressuring Russell.
However, the truth behind the rushed conversion was quite different. It wasn’t Peyper at all who was hurrying Russell along, but rather Scottish coach Nathan Hines.
In a revealing clip of Swinson’s try and Russell’s conversion attempt, a distinct southern hemisphere accent can be heard shouting, “TAKE IT! TAKE IT!”
That voice belonged to Hines, the Australian-born former Scotland and Leinster lock, who was urging Russell to take the conversion before Peyper had a chance to review footage. This footage potentially showed Scottish winger Tom Seymour possibly interfering with French fullback Scott Spedding in the air just before Swinson’s try.
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Three England Stars Who Could Lose Their Central Contracts
Last October, England handed out 17 enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) contracts as part of the shiny new Professional Game Partnership deal.
It gave head coach Steve Borthwick more control than ever, including the final word on all sports science and medical matters.
Among the big winners were George Ford, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith – all three fly-halves receiving upgraded deals ahead of the autumn internationals.
But fast forward six months, and not all those golden ticket holders are sitting pretty. We take a look at three players who could be on the chopping block ahead of the next round of central contract decisions.
#1. Henry Slade – The Class Act Losing His Place
Slade's silky style has long made him a favourite with fans – but his Six Nations was anything but smooth. Once pencilled in as a midfield maestro, he now finds himself completely out of Borthwick's 23.
His combination with Ollie Lawrence never quite clicked, and although there were flickers of promise, it wasn’t enough to convince the coaches. Slade was ultimately cast aside in favour of Fraser Dingwall, and now his England future – and his central contract – looks seriously uncertain.
Possible replacement: Fraser Dingwall
The mid-Six Nations switch that saw him take Slade’s place has given Dingwall a solid opportunity to make a real push for a long-term role in the squad. A gritty and intelligent player, he's an ideal fit in the centre and could continue his rise with consistent performances.
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