Finn Russell says he's looking forward to meeting Ben Healy when the Munster 10 joins up with the Scotland squad ahead of the Six Nations.
Healy earned his first call-up for Scotland this week, with the former Ireland under-20 out-half pledging his international allegiance to the Scots ahead of his move to Edinburgh in the summer.
The Tipperary native was drafted in after injury ruled Adam Hastings out of the championship due to a shoulder injury, providing competition to both Russell and Blair Kinghorn for gametime at 10.
And while Russell says he's yet to meet his future international team-mate, he says he's been doing his homework on the 23-year-old by checking in with some of his contacts in the Munster camp.
"I don't know him at all but I chatted to Mike [Prendergast] and Zeebs [Simon Zebo] a little bit about how good a guy he is and I’m looking forward to getting to know him and working with him over the next six or seven weeks," Russell said after Racing 92's 36-10 defeat to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
"Yeah, there’s always competition and Ben coming in from Munster will bring a different view of the game and how we can play and it will be good working with him and working together on what we can build in the Scotland squad."
Healy was one of two notable call-ups to the Scotland squad this week, with Bath's Ruaridh McConnochie also drafted in by head coach Gregor Townsend, having completed his three-year stand down period since the last of his two England caps in 2019.
While Healy (below) hasn't been involved in any senior international camps with Ireland before, he'll still be able to bring some insider knowledge on the Munster contingent in the Irish squad.
And with Scotland and Ireland in the same pool at this year's World Cup, Russell is hoping to dip into that well of information.
"For sure. He knows the Irish mentality really well, he is from here, so that will help us and me playing in France I will have an idea of the French boys and their mentality so the more of that we can bring in the more it will help the team," he added.
Despite being one of the pre-tournament favourites, Racing's defeat to Leinster on Saturday signals the end of their Champions Cup season, missing out on the last 16.
The French side were beaten 78-20 across their two games against Leo Cullen's side in the pool stages, with Leinster securing the top seed in Pool A, which will see them having home advantage for the remainder of the competition, including the final should they get there.
And Racing assistant coach Rory Taegue says he believes the four-time champions will go on to lift the trophy for a fifth time this May.
"I think so, yeah, definitely. Their physical capabilities, their decision-making, their game plan and they're obviously a very well-coached team," he said.
