Star Metro - Scotland boss Townsend expects Russell will face Springboks

The influential fly-half missed last weekend's campaign-opening victory over Argentina after being sidelined for the last three games of English Prem side Bath's season with a calf injury.

But Townsend, himself a former Scotland fly-half, said Tuesday that Russell is on course to face the world champions at Loftus Versfeld.

"Yeah, he should be," said Townsend, speaking on a conference Tuesday from Scotland's base in South Africa.

"He trained fine today (Tuesday) and he trained well at the end of the week," said Townsend of Russell.

"Wednesday's session he trained fully with the team, he did his own thing on Friday and then the guys who weren't involved did a session on Saturday after the team run and he's trained fine today.

"I think he's definitely over the calf injury. He may have been fit at the weekend. We just felt that he needed more training to really be available for the tough Test matches ahead of us, especially this one this weekend.”

Northampton prop Elliot Millar Mills, however, will play no part in this month's remaining Nations Championship games against the Springboks and Fiji after suffering a calf injury early in Saturday’s 47-38 win over the Pumas.

"It's obviously a real blow for Elliot, getting to start for Scotland in such a big game and building on the form that he's been showing with his club and with us over the last season," said Townsend.

Scotland have climbed to fifth in the world rankings following four victories in their last five matches, but Townsend is well aware his side face the ultimate test this weekend.

"From our perspective, no-one in our group has played South Africa for Scotland away from home," he said.

"It's a unique opportunity for us, obviously the biggest challenge in world rugby. It'll be a great marker of where we are and where we need to go following this game."

O.Poirier--SMC