Johnny Sexton makes peace with Finn Russell

Telegraph

6 hours ago

Johnny Sexton has revealed that he has cleared the air with Finn Russell and insisted they can work together effectively on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Sexton has previously described Russell as 'flashy' and when asked last year who he thought should play at fly-half for the Lions he mentioned Owen Farrell, citing that you want 'Test-match animals' in the position.
Now part of Andy Farrell's Lions coaching team, Sexton has said those comments have been put to one side and that he is ready to 'help' Russell.
'It's probably been blown out of proportion,' said the former Ireland fly-half. 'We had a handshake and a brief chat.
'What the Lions demands of you is that if there is a rivalry – which there's not but if there was – you leave it at the door. I'm here to help him now. I'm here to give him experiences and answer questions. I'm not here to force myself on him or tell him what to do.'
'I'm an inexperienced coach but I've probably seen it all, rugby-wise: I've been bad, I've been dropped, I've been injured. My career has been like this [up and down].'
Before the Six Nations, Scotland's Russell brushed off Sexton's comments in an interview with Telegraph Sport. He said: 'It doesn't annoy me at all. I have never really got to know Johnny. I was out on the 2017 tour but apart from that we have never really had any crossover even in that short time. He was getting ready for the Tests and I was getting ready for the midweek games. I really don't know him that well.
'When you play against someone, there's obviously a competition and a kind of rivalry. He'll have his opinion of me and I'll have mine of him. If he has any comments on me, I am not too stressed about it.'
Over the next two months, the pair will be looking to plot the Wallabies' downfall with the other playmakers in the squad: Fin Smith and Marcus Smith of England.
No Irish fly-halves made the cut but there are 16 Ireland players in the squad and Sexton has defended the record number of call-ups.
'Well, Ireland have done pretty well over the last few years, having won the [Six Nations] championship last year, the Grand Slam the year before, so you're probably looking over the last three years,' he said.
'With some players, coaches would look at form over eight, nine years. It's not just if you've played well in a couple of games in the Six Nations, you can't force your way in, but sometimes you take a bigger-picture look with players.
'They know the way Andy coaches, they know the system. It didn't surprise me because, historically, let's say when there was a Welsh coach and the Welsh team did well, there were the majority of the Welsh team.
'I think the teams that performed the best in the Six Nations got selected.'
Having initially taken a job in the commercial sector following his retirement after the 2023 World Cup, former Leinster fly-half Sexton is relishing his current role after being tempted into coaching by Farrell.
'No matter what role you come into a Lions set-up, it's a huge privilege and an honour to be here,' said the 39-year-old, who toured as a player in 2013 and 2017.
'It's no different being an assistant kicking coach and helping out with the lads, there is still a huge amount of pride to come in here and put – not a jersey – but a badge on your chest. It's been great to be a part of, a great group so far.
'I'm enjoying being back and hopefully I can add value because that's ultimately what you want when you come into a job.'