Finn Russell says Andy Farrell helped put any tension with Johnny Sexton to bed
Finn Russell has revealed that he buried the hatchet with Johnny Sexton with the help of Andy Farrell as the old foes join forces on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Sexton has previously been critical of Russell, labelling him 'flashy' and a 'media darling', while adding he would choose Owen Farrell over him against the Wallabies because the former England captain is a 'Test match animal'.
Advertisement
And in his autobiography, the Ireland great confessed that it 'kills me to this day' that he was overlooked in favour of Russell for the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa.
Now the former fly-half rivals are working together to plot the downfall of Australia, with Sexton acting as the Lions kicking skills coach and Russell in pole position to take the playmaking duties in the Test series.
Russell (right) says Farrell (left) has helped ease any tensions. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.
When they first linked up after the players involved in the Gallagher Premiership and United Rugby Championship finals arrived into camp earlier this week, any acrimony quickly faded.
'It's just been bit of a craic. It was never a thing. When we came in, we had a laugh straight away and Andy kind of put it to bed so that was good,' Scotland international Russell said.
Advertisement
'Not that it was ever going to be an issue, I don't believe. We're all here with the same goal, which is to win the series.
'I've only been here a few days but it's been good working with Johnny. I'm happy to bounce questions off him and chat to him about what he's seeing.
'With the numbers we've had, he's had to jump in sometimes so it's been quite funny being on the same training side as him.
Sexton is part of the Lions' coaching setup. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.
'It's good to have a guy with his experience here. I can chat to him and bounce things off him as and when I need.
Advertisement
'All the coaches seem open to conversations and chats. It's a good environment to be in.'
Australia will be Russell's third expedition with the Lions, with all three set to be very different experiences.
In 2017 in New Zealand he was part of the controversial 'Geography Six', a group of Scotland and Wales players who were called into Warren Gatland's squad not on merit but because of their close proximity while on summer tours.
Four years later he travelled to South Africa where all matches were played behind closed doors due to the pandemic, denying the Lions their famed 'sea of red' support. The Bath ringmaster started the third Test against the Springbocks.
Advertisement
Russell has been part of two previous Lions tours (Steve Haag/PA)
'New Zealand was still amazing because it was my first time being called up to the Lions,' Russell said.
Sport
Andy Farrell says Lions 'won't sugar-coat' defeat...
Read More
'We weren't there for the whole tour, but to have gone to New Zealand and played was really cool for me.
'And then in 2021 it was special going the whole time, even though it was Covid. We couldn't have family and friends or fans at the game, but it was still amazing in a different way.
'In terms of the boys, we probably got to know each other a little bit better because it was just us in the hotel and whatnot. I'm looking forward to what this one's going to be like.'
Advertisement
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
37 minutes ago
- The Sun
Arsenal growing frustrated with Benjamin Sesko over wage demands as striker transfer search hits the rocks
ARSENAL are growing frustrated with Benjamin Sesko over the RB Leipzig striker's wage demands. And the Gunners are facing a double transfer blow — with Marc Guehi set to snub at Emirates move in favour of joining Liverpool. 4 4 4 Mikel Arteta is desperate for a No9, with transfer chief Andrea Berta in negotiations for Sesko while circling for Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres. Arteta wants Slovenia ace Sesko, 22, to be his big summer splash and the Gunners will pay the £70million asking price. But insiders reveal that the Sesko camp are looking for a contract much higher than they plan to pay and that may force a change of direction. Gyokeres, 27, is Arsenal's alternative and they do not want to lose out on the Swede, who is already realising he is not first choice. Gyokeres wants to come to the Premier League and Sporting Lisbon will sell — but Arsenal currently have Sesko ahead of him. The Gunners are facing defeat in their pursuit of Crystal Palace and England centre-back Guehi because of guarantees over playing time. Guehi wants regular first-team football and assurances from Arteta that he will get it in the North London team. But William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes would almost certainly start ahead of the 24-year-old if he was to move there. 4 Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates With Liverpool selling Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for around £40m, the club are on the lookout for a centre-back and want Guehi. The defender does not want to be sitting on the bench with the World Cup coming up next summer and Liverpool could be the perfect fit. Arsenal will finalise a move for Martin Zubimendi next month at the request of Real Sociedad. The Spanish outfit will let their influential midfielder go but for financial reasons there is a minor delay at their end.
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Motherwell fans turned on me just like they did with Stuart Kettlewell ... former Fir Park boss Graham Alexander recalls the personal abuse he endured during his time managing in Scotland
Bradford City manager Graham Alexander admits he has 'massive empathy' with his fellow former Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell after also suffering personal abuse in his own reign at Fir Park. Kettlewell, who is now manager at Kilmarnock, quit Motherwell after two years in charge in January citing the criticism he had received from supporters during a downturn in results. Kettlewell said quitting was the right decision for his family, because it was 'getting to the point where my wife has to take the children away from a game because you physically can't sit there anymore'. Alexander admits he was startled to read about Kettlewell's exit from Motherwell, as it chimed with his own experience – and the knock on effect on his loved ones - at Fir Park. He explained: 'When Stuart came out and said why he left; I shook my head. 'I'd thought it was personal to me. But obviously not. It's not a nice experience and it's unjust - whether you're doing a good or a bad job. 'But I know for a fact that me and (assistant) Chris (Lucketti) did a good job and I can see Stuart did a fantastic job. 'I had massive empathy with him because I'd experienced it and know how horrible it is.' Alexander helped Well qualify for Europe in season 2020-21 but quit after they were knocked out of Europa Conference League qualifying following home and away defeats by Sligo Rovers in July 29. He added: 'For me, abuse after the first leg directed as myself and Chris got the ball rolling. That's okay. I can live with that. 'But when I got home that night my wife, Karen, told me she couldn't come to games any more. 'She'd committed to the job as much as me by leaving our family home of 20 years to live in a completely different city with no friends. 'Managers can be quite a selfish bunch. But the sacrifices family make for you are big. 'So if they're getting no joy coming to see your team play or don't feel they can go to your workplace, that's not healthy. 'That brought it home and made me stop and think. I just wanted to plan for the second leg, get through it. 'But we lost in Ireland and the stuff directed not just towards me, but to the players, was bad. 'I sat up all night, spoke to chairman Jim McMahon in the morning and said I thought it was time for us to stop there. 'It was, genuinely, mutual thing. For a while, I regretted it because I'd never walked away from anything. 'But it genuinely felt like if I left, it would go away for everybody. And I think Stuart felt the same.'
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Lennon Miller's dad Lee confirms Scotland star is set to leave Motherwell this summer... and would favour a move abroad
LEE MILLER has confirmed his son Lennon is primed to move on from Motherwell this summer - with the Fir Park teenager's heart now set on a transfer abroad. The 18-year-old enjoyed a scintillating season in claret and amber, becoming the Lanarkshire club's youngest ever captain and attracting interest from clubs across Europe. This week, new Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou admitted he's working on the assumption he'll lose his star player before the season begins. The Steelmen hope to net upwards of £5m for a talent who recently became a full Scotland international. And while Celtic and Rangers have been credited with an interest in the midfielder, his father - the former Falkirk and Aberdeen striker - indicated that his ambitions lie elsewhere. Asked if he believed Lennon would move in this transfer window, he said: 'I think so, yeah. There's a lot of interest in Lennon. I go on Twitter and it's a new club every day. 'In terms of bids going in for him, there's nothing gone in this summer. 'There were a few bids in January and the valuation of Lennon wasn't met, so it's one of those ones we'll just wait. 'Lennon's on holiday now, he's chilling out, just relaxing, ready for the season coming ahead but who knows where that'll be. No idea.' Miller revealed, however, that his son is likely to follow the recent trend of emerging Scottish talents who've sought to broaden their horizons by moving overseas, primarily to Italy. 'His preferable choice would be abroad,' he added. 'He's not just going to go to a club for the sake of it. It needs to have the right environment, it needs to have the right manager, the right club. 'Lennon's not bothered with the money side of things, that'll come. Obviously, it's a short career and you need to earn money. 'But he wants to go and progress his career and then kick on again. 'So, we'll see. I don't know what that'll be. But it needs to be a place where he can then grow again.' Miller looked set to earn a big money move in January until a hairline fracture of his ankle sidelined him. Since then, he's made his full Scotland debut against Iceland with his first start then coming away to Liechtenstein. With speculation surrounding his now future mounting by the day, his father feels it's better for all concerned if that matter is now resolved. 'A bit of uncertainty isn't great,' he said. 'Although, he just gets on with it, he just plays football, that's what he's there to do. 'He just wants to play football whatever it is, whatever it may be. 'But the next move for Lennon is so important in terms of his development.. His development is key in this.'
