British & Irish Lions: Johnny Sexton addresses ‘flashy’ Finn Russell comments as Ireland legend blames media for controversy
B&I Lions kicking coach Johnny Sexton addresses his previous comments about Finn Russell.
Legendary Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton says he is looking forward to working with Finn Russell, stating that his comments about the Scottish playmaker were ‘blown out of proportion.’
Sexton joined Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions coaching ticket for the tour to Australia, which prompted suggestions that Russell may not crack the Test team.
This came after the former Ireland captain suggested, in his autobiography last year, that Russell’s status as the ‘darling of the media’ was a factor in Warren Gatland selecting the Scotsman over him for the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa.
Sexton’s comments
He followed that up by stating in an interview with The Times that he would select ex-England skipper Owen Farrell over Russell for the tour to Australia.
“I’d pick Owen Farrell,” he said.
“Who do you want in there when the going gets tough? Test-match animals. I know who the media would want. Finn Russell, Marcus Smith, the flashy…”
He added: “Marcus, I think, is a generational talent. I actually wouldn’t really include him. He looks flashy, but I think he manages the game really well.
“I think he can light up a game. But for me, I’d like Owen. He can do some remarkable things.”
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Blown out of proportion
Speaking from the Lions camp in Dublin, Sexton cleared up his comments on the Scottish fly-half, who he will work closely with as the team’s kicking coach this summer.
“There’s a lot been made of the whole situation, primarily by you guys [the media],” said Sexton.
“I don’t even think it’s what I wrote in the book, it’s more the comments I said when doing media for the book, but it’s probably been blown out of proportion really.
“I was talking about myself in 2021 and how I felt back then. It was more really what I thought Gatland was thinking as opposed to what I was thinking. But look, you have to deal with these types of challenges and it won’t be the last time.”
The pair have since met in the Lions camp where they shared a handshake and brief chat prior to the Premiership Final.
Sexton dubbed Russell’s performance against Leicester Tigers as ‘outstanding’ but looks forward to catching up with him more in the coming days.
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After a training camp in Portugal, the Lions are in Dublin as preparations for the tour to Australia ramp up with their opening game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium.
“He was racing off obviously because those guys were in finals, they didn’t stay around too long – they came in, got their kit, did a bit of media and were gone,” the Lions coach continued.
“I’m looking forward to catching up with him later. What the Lions demands of you is that if there is a rivalry, which there’s not, you leave it at the door.
“I’m here to help him now, I’m here to give him experiences, to answer questions, I’m not here to force myself or tell him what to do, it’s not that relationship. I’m here to help.”
