Russell in dreamland before Scotland tackle Japan

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has admitted his dreams have come true after being picked to face Japan on Wednesday.

The 22 year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks over the past two years as starting fly-half for current Pro12 champions Glasgow Warriors and is now widely considered a talismatic heart for both club and country

But the former Ayr player confessed that before he was picked up by Gregor Townsend's Warriors, he never believed he would one day run out on the biggest stage in world rugby.

Russell however, capable of playing both stand-off and as a centre, will get his chance to shine when he lines up against the Brave Blossoms - still buzzing after their famous win over South Africa - at Gloucester's Kingsholm Stadium in his side's Pool B opener on Wednesday afternoon.

The fly-half, who is known at Glasgow for being typically laid-back and understated, said: "It's been a long build up to the first game - especially with us being one of the last to play. But it's starting to get close now and I'm pretty excited.

"The World Cup is the biggest stage to play on in rugby and I can't wait to get into it.

"Two years ago I was playing club rugby with Ayr, so this will be a bit different.”

"When you are young you always hope that one day you will make it to this level but for me, I never really thought it would actually happen.

"Four years ago I was working as a stonemason reading about the World Cup in the morning papers. But even then the thought of playing in the World Cup seemed like a dream.

"I'm just glad it's come true."

Meanwhile, lock Grant Gilchrist claims Scotland's group has been "blown wide open" by Japan's shock win over South Africa.

With the Japanese result – already considered one of the greatest upsets in rugby history – having come in the opening round of the tournament, Edinburgh forward Gilchrist believes it given the other teams in Pool B - Scotland, Samoa and the United States – confidence that they too could edge out the Springboks in the battle for the two quarter-final slots.

Gilchrist, who was picked ahead of Richie Gray to start in the second row on Wednesday, said: "We could always see Japan were a top side.

"They showed that on Saturday and in terms of the group, it's blown it wide open.

"It changes the dynamic of the group. We want to qualify and while the Japan result doesn't change what we want to do, it does change the mindsets of the other teams who thought South Africa would roll over all their games."