It could have been so different for the Scots, who turned down a late kick at goal to go for the win but ended up on the losing end of a tight one in Paris for the second time this year.
But Russell, who since that first defeat to France has led the Warriors to the GUINNESS PRO12 title, is adamant his side have improved more than their warm-up record of won two and lost two would suggest.
"The performance we put in against France was brilliant. We could have got a draw there if we'd wanted, but we decided to go for the win," he said.
"It was one pass away from getting a win. I guess you could say that was similar to the Six Nations, a bounce-of-the-ball sort of thing, but we had so many chances and so many clean line-breaks that I think as a team we've come on so much.
"We're getting into the right structure and creating these opportunities, which is brilliant for us."
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