Latest news with #Sexton
The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘He's still flashy' jokes Johnny Sexton as Ireland legend reveals Finn Russell has shown different side with Lions
JOHNNY SEXTON buried the hatchet with Finn Russell — and tipped him to bury the Wallabies today. Former fly-half 2 Johnny Sexton is part of the Lions coaching team Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile 2 It has seen him link up with former rival Finn Russell, right Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile The bromance is growing as his old enemy gets his first Lions Test start at Suncorp Stadium where the Dubliner did the same 12 years ago. Sexton, 40, had his nose put out of joint in 2021 when Russell got picked ahead of him for the series against South Africa . He later described the Scot as 'flashy'. But the Sexton said: 'He's still flash, yeah! He'd hate it if I said 'no'. 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 a mercurial No 10. Read More on Lions '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 ten and he's been able to manage a team — because, ultimately, his main job tomorrow is to manage all the guys around him. 'And then his brilliance will come out, once he's into the game.' Russell plays like he is having a kickabout but Sexton has seen another side to the maverick with his off-pitch prep on the laptop and around the squad ahead of the Brisbane Test. Most read in Rugby Union Sexton said: 'You have a perception of him, and I would have had the same, of a relaxed guy who 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 ten, you need the guys around you prepared. Andy Farrell wants end to social media 'nonsense' after son Owen's Lions call 'You need to know what you are doing together and he has done a great job. 'I am sure Joe (Schmidt) will have a plan, because he'll know how integral he is to our team and will do 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. 'Physically he doesn't look that big but he's fronted up with a lot of impact tackles. 'We'll need him in that regard because they'll be coming down his channel.' Sexton and the Lions won 23-21 here in 2013, when Kurtley Beale slipped taking a late Wallabies penalty to win it. And Sexton added: 'It's going to come down to something small like that. Hopefully we'll be on the right side of it.'
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Johnny Sexton heaps praise upon former rival but insists he's still 'flash'
Johnny Sexton has praised Finn Russell's abilities, acknowledging that the "flash" skills of the British and Irish Lions fly-half are complemented by a solid defensive game ahead of the Brisbane showdown. Russell is set to orchestrate the play in Saturday's first Test as the Lions aim to secure an early advantage in their quest for a series win, something they last achieved on their 2013 tour Down Under. The Scottish maestro, once labelled as "flashy" and a "media darling" in Sexton's memoirs, has since impressed the Irish legend with his all-round game during their time together, with Sexton now serving as the Lions kicking coach. 'Finn's still flash! He'd hate it if I said he isn't,' Sexton said. 'But in the last couple of years he's come into his own as a 10 and he's been able to manage a team because ultimately that's his main job. And then his brilliance will come out once he's into the game. 'He's probably been our best defender in the backline on this tour so far. You always knew that was in there because he's a feisty guy. 'Physically he doesn't look that big, but he's fronted up big time on this tour and made a lot of impact tackles. We'll need him to do that against Australia because they'll be coming down his channel. 'I'm sure (Australia coach) Joe Schmidt will have a plan for him because he'll know how integral he is to our team and I'm sure he'll be doing everything to cut him off.' Russell plays with a smile on his face, reacting to mistakes with a grin and shrug of the shoulders, but the 32-year-old magician is operating at the peak of his powers having recently steered Bath to the treble. 'Finn has been relaxed as always, you wouldn't know it's the week of a Test. You can see the work he does, though,' Sexton said. '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. 'In the last couple of years he's really matured as a player. Bath getting to finals, winning trophies – you can't do that if you're just that kind of mercurial 10. 'You've seen that now this year. He's got his team over the line and he's won a few trophies and he's carried that form into here.' The Lions are heavy favourites to seize an early lead in the series at Suncorp Stadium, but Sexton insists victory is not a foregone conclusion. 'We don't pay too much attention to the bookies' odds or what people are saying. We're just concentrating on putting a great performance out there,' the former Lions playmaker said. 'That's what will be needed – a great performance, not a good performance, to beat this Australian team. 'They're a proud nation, they're a top class team, they're well coached, and we need to get the best version of ourselves out there.'
Leader Live
a day ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Johnny Sexton says Lions playmaker Finn Russell is no flash in the pan
Russell pulls the strings in Saturday's first Test as the Lions look to take an important first step towards claiming their first series victory since touring Down Under in 2013. The Scotland playmaker was famously described as 'flashy' and a 'media darling' in Sexton's autobiography, but the Ireland great has been won over by his former rival since working with him in his capacity as Lions kicking coach. 'Finn's still flash! He'd hate it if I said he isn't,' Sexton said. 'But in the last couple of years he's come into his own as a 10 and he's been able to manage a team because ultimately that's his main job. And then his brilliance will come out once he's into the game. 'He's probably been our best defender in the backline on this tour so far. You always knew that was in there because he's a feisty guy. 'Physically he doesn't look that big, but he's fronted up big time on this tour and made a lot of impact tackles. We'll need him to do that against Australia because they'll be coming down his channel. 'I'm sure (Australia coach) Joe Schmidt will have a plan for him because he'll know how integral he is to our team and I'm sure he'll be doing everything to cut him off.' Russell plays with a smile on his face, reacting to mistakes with a grin and shrug of the shoulders, but the 32-year-old magician is operating at the peak of his powers having recently steered Bath to the treble. 'Finn has been relaxed as always, you wouldn't know it's the week of a Test. You can see the work he does, though,' Sexton said. '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. 'In the last couple of years he's really matured as a player. Bath getting to finals, winning trophies – you can't do that if you're just that kind of mercurial 10. 'You've seen that now this year. He's got his team over the line and he's won a few trophies and he's carried that form into here.' The Lions are heavy favourites to seize an early lead in the series at Suncorp Stadium, but Sexton insists victory is not a foregone conclusion. 'We don't pay too much attention to the bookies' odds or what people are saying. We're just concentrating on putting a great performance out there,' the former Lions playmaker said. 'That's what will be needed – a great performance, not a good performance, to beat this Australian team. 'They're a proud nation, they're a top class team, they're well coached, and we need to get the best version of ourselves out there.'
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Johnny Sexton says Lions playmaker Finn Russell is no flash in the pan
Russell pulls the strings in Saturday's first Test as the Lions look to take an important first step towards claiming their first series victory since touring Down Under in 2013. The Scotland playmaker was famously described as 'flashy' and a 'media darling' in Sexton's autobiography, but the Ireland great has been won over by his former rival since working with him in his capacity as Lions kicking coach. 'Finn's still flash! He'd hate it if I said he isn't,' Sexton said. 'But in the last couple of years he's come into his own as a 10 and he's been able to manage a team because ultimately that's his main job. And then his brilliance will come out once he's into the game. 'He's probably been our best defender in the backline on this tour so far. You always knew that was in there because he's a feisty guy. 'Physically he doesn't look that big, but he's fronted up big time on this tour and made a lot of impact tackles. We'll need him to do that against Australia because they'll be coming down his channel. 'I'm sure (Australia coach) Joe Schmidt will have a plan for him because he'll know how integral he is to our team and I'm sure he'll be doing everything to cut him off.' Russell plays with a smile on his face, reacting to mistakes with a grin and shrug of the shoulders, but the 32-year-old magician is operating at the peak of his powers having recently steered Bath to the treble. 'Finn has been relaxed as always, you wouldn't know it's the week of a Test. You can see the work he does, though,' Sexton said. '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. 'In the last couple of years he's really matured as a player. Bath getting to finals, winning trophies – you can't do that if you're just that kind of mercurial 10. 'You've seen that now this year. He's got his team over the line and he's won a few trophies and he's carried that form into here.' The Lions are heavy favourites to seize an early lead in the series at Suncorp Stadium, but Sexton insists victory is not a foregone conclusion. 'We don't pay too much attention to the bookies' odds or what people are saying. We're just concentrating on putting a great performance out there,' the former Lions playmaker said. 'That's what will be needed – a great performance, not a good performance, to beat this Australian team. 'They're a proud nation, they're a top class team, they're well coached, and we need to get the best version of ourselves out there.'
eNCA
a day ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Lions ignoring the noise ahead of Wallabies Test
BRISBANE - British and Irish Lions assistant coach Johnny Sexton said his team was taking no notice of bookmakers who have the visitors overwhelming favourites to win the opening Test against the Wallabies. The teams play the first match of the three-Test series at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, with Australia widely considered the underdogs. The last time they met, in Brisbane in 2013, the Lions edged home 23-21 when Australia's Kurtley Beale slipped while attempting what would have been a match-winning penalty. The Wallabies this time have been hit by injuries to star forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, but Sexton stressed the Lions would not be taking them lightly. "We don't pay too much attention to bookies' odds or what people are saying," Sexton said. "We are just concentrating on tomorrow and trying to put a great performance out there because that's what is going to be needed -- a great performance, not a good performance." The former Irish fly-half made his Lions debut in Brisbane in 2013, playing all three Tests as the Lions claimed the series 2-1. "I think the atmosphere, the crowds, that's the thing that always lives with you," he said. "Obviously, when Kurtley missed the kick the euphoria we felt shows the margins of professional sport, of top-level sport. "It's going to come down to something small like that and hopefully we come out on the right side." Australia will give 22-year-old flyhalf Tom Lynagh his starting debut on Saturday, but Sexton said he was sure the Australian would cope with the pressure. "He's not had much experience internationally, a few games off the bench," Sexton said. "But it seems like he's got a really steady head on him and is a mature guy for his age. "We've looked at a lot of him this week. Once Noah Lolesio was ruled out we knew it would be either him or Ben Donaldson and we've done our homework on them.
