Finn Russell: Andy Farrell helped Johnny Sexton and I bury hatchet forward of British and Irish Lions tour to Australia

Finn Russell has revealed he buried the hatchet with Johnny Sexton with the assistance of Andy Farrell because the outdated foes be part of forces on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Sexton has beforehand been essential of Russell, labelling him “flashy” and a “media darling”, whereas including he would select Owen Farrell over him towards the Wallabies as a result of the previous England captain is a “Test match animal”.

And in his autobiography, the Eire nice confessed that it “kills me to this day” that he was missed in favour of Russell for the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa.

Now the previous fly-half rivals are working collectively to beat Australia, with Sexton appearing because the Lions kicking expertise coach and Russell in pole place to take the playmaking duties within the Check collection.

Once they first linked up after the gamers concerned within the Premiership and United Rugby Championship finals arrived into camp earlier this week, any acrimony rapidly pale.

“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 worldwide Russell stated.

“Not that it was ever going to be a problem, I do not consider. We’re all right here with the identical aim, which is to win the collection.

“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 have had, he is needed to bounce in generally so it has been fairly humorous being on the identical coaching facet as him.

“It’s good to have a guy with his experience here.”

Australia will likely be Russell’s third expedition with the Lions, with all three set to be very totally different experiences.

In 2017 in New Zealand he was a part of the controversial ‘Geography Six’, a gaggle of Scotland and Wales gamers who had been referred to as into Warren Gatland’s squad not on benefit however due to their shut proximity whereas on summer season excursions.

4 years later he travelled to South Africa the place all matches had been performed behind closed doorways as a result of pandemic, denying the Lions their famed ‘sea of pink’ help. The Bathtub ringmaster began the third Check towards the Springboks.

“New Zealand was still amazing because it was my first time being called up to the Lions,” Russell stated.

“We weren’t there for the whole tour, but to have gone to New Zealand and played was really cool for me.

“After which in 2021 it was particular going the entire time, despite the fact that it was Covid. We could not have household and buddies or followers on the recreation, but it surely was nonetheless superb differently.

“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.”

What’s subsequent: British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities

Sky Sports activities will completely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Assessments towards the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven completely dwell.