Finn Russell responds to Johnny Sexton criticism, Lions hopes in trouble

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Before becoming part of the British and Irish Lions coaching team for their summer tour to Australia, Sexton didn't hold back when discussing his own omission from the 2021 Lions squad, and of course, his thoughts on Russell.

Sexton may have swapped the famous red jersey for a coaching clipboard, but he’s still got plenty to say about the Lions, their No.10 selection, and the players involved. After two iconic Lions tours, Sexton has the experience to back up his opinions. But not everyone agrees with him—most notably, Finn Russell.

In his reflections on missing out on the 2021 Lions tour, Sexton didn’t hold back. The former Ireland fly-half admitted that the decision still stings, saying it "kills" him to this day. But the real drama came when he started talking about other players, including Finn Russell, who did make the squad.

“I think Finn Russell was the darling of the media during that year’s Six Nations, but he didn’t look like a Gatland player to me," Sexton wrote. "If Gats was true to his ideals, I was in."

That’s a shot fired directly at Russell—and it’s hard not to feel the tension bubbling.

Fast forward to 2023, and Sexton’s still making his opinions known. When asked about who should wear the No.10 jersey for the 2025 Lions tour to Australia, Sexton didn’t hesitate. His pick? Owen Farrell, of course. But in classic Sexton style, he couldn’t resist throwing in a cheeky jab at Russell.

“I’d pick Owen Farrell. Who do you want in there when the going gets tough? Test-match animals,” Sexton said. "I know who the media would want—Finn Russell, Marcus Smith, the flashy..."

But wait—he didn’t leave Marcus Smith in the “flashy” category. He spared him from that particular label. But Russell? He was still in the firing line.

Russell, never one to shy away from a challenge, wasn’t about to let Sexton’s comments slide. In a cool response, the Scotland star shrugged off the criticism, saying he doesn’t really know Sexton well enough to care.

“If he has any comments on me, I’m not too stressed about it,” Russell told The Telegraph.

But Russell didn’t stop there. The 31-year-old then went all-in defending his style of play, claiming that it’s not just some magical, off-the-cuff move. "It’s not always off the cuff and lucky," Russell said, pushing back against the notion that his creative brilliance is just spontaneous. For Russell, those jaw-dropping moments come from hours of hard work, opponent analysis, and a well-honed game plan.

Russell might be known for his maverick style, but he’s not just improvising on the fly. According to the Scotland fly-half, every daring pass and eye-catching play is the result of in-depth analysis, countless hours on the training pitch, and building strong partnerships with teammates.

“It might seem off the cuff for a lot of people, but that’s the images I see on the pitch. It’s not risky; it’s my style of play," Russell explained. “It’s all about building knowledge of the game and analyzing the opposition."

While some players have all but booked their tickets to Australia, others are sweating bullets. Whether it’s poor form, fierce competition, or a coach with long memories, a few major names could be on the chopping block.

Here are five shock omissions we think are on the cards—and why their Lions dreams might be dead before the squad is even named…

Moments of magic? Always. But consistency? Not so much. Russell’s 2025 Six Nations was a mixed bag at best. A missed conversion against England and a disastrous showing versus France have left serious questions about his big-game temperament.

Add in the appointment of Johnny Sexton as Lions assistant coach, and things start looking bleak. In his autobiography, Sexton slammed Russell’s 2021 selection as a media-driven hype job—and he hasn’t softened since.

“If you want someone reliable in the trenches, you go with Owen Farrell,” Sexton recently told The Times, taking a not-so-subtle dig at Russell’s “flashy” style. He even spared Marcus Smith, calling him a “generational talent.” Finn? Not so lucky.

Not long ago, Ringrose looked like a nailed-on Lion. But a rocky Six Nations campaign could have sunk his chances. He was solid in Ireland’s first couple of games, then saw red against Wales and missed the crunch clash with France. His return against Italy? Ropey.

He’s still a classy operator on his day, but with Farrell spoiled for choice in the midfield, Ringrose may find himself edged out by younger, more in-form options.

Once considered one of England’s most gifted backs, Slade’s stock has taken a major hit. His partnership with Ollie Lawrence was under heavy scrutiny heading into the Six Nations—and despite some signs of improvement, it didn’t last.

Fraser Dingwall took his place in the England squad, and now Slade’s international future—and Lions hopes—look grim. Having already missed out on the 2023 World Cup, the Exeter man may once again fall victim to poor form at the worst possible time.

He was one of Scotland’s top performers in the Six Nations—but that might not be enough. The Lions back-row battle is absolutely brutal this year, and with Jack Willis tearing it up in France, Farrell might favour more dominant ball-carriers and jackalers.

Ritchie has leadership and work rate in spades, but he could become the unlucky victim of ridiculous depth in one of the tour’s most hotly contested positions.

The veteran flanker rolled back the years against Scotland, delivering one of the performances of the tournament—but that flash of vintage POM might have been his swan song. His form faded fast, and a tough showing against France left fans wondering if the tank’s finally empty.

He’s since hung up his boots for Ireland, and unless Farrell is picking on nostalgia, O'Mahony is more likely to be analysing Lions games for Sky Sports than playing in them.

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