Johnny Sexton, the British & Irish Lions assistant coach, has backed Finn Russell to deliver on his first Test start against Australia on Saturday, despite previously labelling the Scotland fly-half as 'flash' and a 'media darling'. Sexton, who made his Lions debut in Brisbane 12 years ago, admitted he has been pleasantly surprised by Russell's maturity and work ethic during the tour.
Russell, on his third Lions tour, impressed off the bench in the 2021 series decider against South Africa and played a minor role in 2017. Sexton noted that Russell has evolved from a mercurial talent into a game manager, citing his success at Bath, where he helped the club reach finals and win trophies. 'He's still flash, but he's come into his own as a 10,' Sexton said, adding that Russell's brilliance emerges once he is into the game.
Sexton also praised Russell's defensive capabilities, describing him as 'probably our best defender in the backline on this tour so far'. He expects Australia to target Russell's channel but is confident the Scot will front up physically. The Lions are heavy favourites to defeat the Wallabies, and Sexton believes Russell's relaxed temperament will help the team handle the expectation.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies are wary of a repeat of the 2013 first Test, when Kurtley Beale slipped and missed a last-gasp penalty, handing the Lions victory. Overnight rain has made conditions slippery, and captain Harry Wilson acknowledged the need to avoid similar mistakes. 'It's something we've definitely paid attention to,' he said.
