Johnny Sexton’s verdict on ‘feisty’ Finn Russell ahead of Lions series opener after ‘flashy’ criticism

British and Irish Lions kicking coach Johnny Sexton has sung Finn Russell’s praises ahead of the famous touring team’s opening Test against Australia on Saturday.

The playmaking duo had an allegedly strained relationship after former Ireland fly-half Sexton referred to Russell as “flashy” and a “media darling” after losing out on British and Irish Lions selection to the Scotsman in 2021.

Sexton mentioned his disappointment in his autobiography which was published after his playing career ended following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

However, he has been working closely with Russell since joining Lions head coach Andy Farrell’s backroom staff and said the Scot is a different player to the one he played against.

Russell was a key player at club level for Bath during the 2024/25 season and played a leading role as they won the Premiership, Investec Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup trophies.

He is set to pull the strings in the Lions backline after being selected as the starting fly-half for Saturday’s eagerly anticipated clash with the tourists at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

‘He’s really matured as a player’

“He’s still flash, yeah! He’d hate it if I said ‘no’,” Sexton said jokingly. “But in the last couple of years he’s really matured as a player. You can see it with Bath getting to finals, winning trophies, you can’t do that if you’re just that kind of mercurial 10.

“He’s got his team over the line and he’s carried that form into here. We always knew, particularly when you’re surrounding him with the players he’s got around him, he’s going to bring the best out of them and they’ll bring the best out of him.

“He’s come into his own as a 10 and he’s been able to manage a team because ultimately that’s the main job that he’s got tomorrow, is to manage all the guys around him.

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“And then his brilliance will come out, once he’s into the game.”

Sexton also revealed that Russell spends hours analysing his opponents and he has been pleasantly surprised by how he prepares for matches while he also expects Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt to work on countering the threat which the Lions star will pose to his team.

“He has been relaxed as always, you wouldn’t know it’s the week of a Test match. But you can see the work he does,” he added.

‘He does a lot of work behind the scenes’

“You have a perception of him from the outside and I would have had the same, in terms of he is a relaxed guy and just takes things in his stride but he does a lot of work behind the scenes.

“He’s been really good this week in prepping the team, because as a 10, you need the guys around you prepared, you need to know what you are doing together and he has done a great job of that so far.

“Hopefully he’ll continue his form. I am sure Joe will have a plan, because he’ll know how integral he is to our team and will be doing everything he can to put him off.

“He’s been probably our best defender in the backline on this tour so far. You always knew that was in there, he’s a feisty guy out there.

“Physically he doesn’t look that big, but he’s fronted up big time on this tour, with a lot of impact tackles and we’ll need him in that regard because they’ll be coming down his channel, I’m sure.”

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