Glasgow Warriors' Finn Russell taking a break after Scarlets demolition in Wales

As Scotland stand-off Finn Russell suns himself on a Majorcan beach this week, he can reflect on a job well done in Wales and look forward to challenging for the Pro12 title again.

Glasgow Warriors' Finn Russell. Picture: SNS

Defending Guinness champions Glasgow all but secured a play-off place by beating the team who started the weekend one place below them in fourth, with all roads pointing to the final fixture in Connacht as deciding home advantage in those play-offs.

Russell’s form was key to that confidence, a superb individual opening try and then finishing off a team effort as he scored his side’s first 15 points and set them on the path to victory.

He certainly earned a break before the team’s final assault at the end of a long season which, of course, also including the World Cup and Six Nations campaigns.

His confidence was reflected in the team effort as they romped to seven tries and eight wins in a row has taken them from eighth place in the table to third with every chance of finishing in the top two with a final at Murrayfield beckoning.

“The start we got out to was brilliant for us. We focused all week on getting a quick start out of the blocks like that,” said Russell, who began it all with a superb individual try from his own chip ahead.

“We knew there was a bit of space in behind their defence, I had a good chat with the boys outside, they let me know it was on and it was well executed I guess. I didn’t know if I was going to get it on the full or let it bounce but I just went for a dive. It was pleasing.

“We have a week off next week. I’m going to try and get away to Majorca and get my feet up for a bit, relax and then come back for the Zebre game, which will be tough, and build from that to Connacht away to try and get a home semi-final.

“Home semi-final is the target. It’s eight wins in a row so it’s great to have that performance building into the next couple of games and hopefully the semi-final and final. We are peaking at the right time, we are getting our form back from last season and the momentum is building.”

Certainly defeated coach Wayne Pivac sees Glasgow as the favourites for the title. “They are a very good side. They punished us for mistakes and I think they are the side to beat at the moment,” he said.

It was an assessment that will be shared by many, but captain Jonny Gray was refusing to get carried away.

“We are delighted with the result today but lose one game and we can still slide down the scale,” said the lock.

“The competition is getting tougher and tougher every year and this shows how close it is.

“We will have a week off and then come back. Nine weeks ago we knew we had to take each game week by week, so it will be the same for Zebre and then Connacht away.”

The Scarlets clawed their way back to 10-15 not long before half-time, but tries for left-wing Lee Jones and scrum-half Henry Pyrgos either side of the half-time break put the bonus point victory in the bag.

From then on, Glasgow in general and Russell in particular were able to show off their party pieces.

They pretty much guaranteed one extra game after their last two league fixtures and, on this form, there will be few betting against them having another four matches to go this season.