Rugby-Still flash, but Russell brings true grit to Lions playmaker role
BRISBANE (Reuters) -Finn Russell may be on his third British & Irish Lions tour but the 32-year-old Scotland flyhalf will wear the red number 10 shirt for the first time in a test on Saturday when he takes the field against Australia.
Russell's test experience with the tourists has been limited to 69 minutes as a replacement for Dan Biggar in the 2021 decider after injury had prevented him from playing the first two matches against the Springboks.
In 2017 in New Zealand, Russell was one of the Geography Six -- half a dozen players called up solely for one midweek match against the Wellington Hurricanes to protect the test squad in a move coach Warren Gatland later said he regretted.
On Saturday, the 32-year-old with the unerring boot and ability to turn a defence inside out finally gets his chance to lead the Lions backline from the start of a test after being one of Andy Farrell's least controversial selections.
Russell has been working in Australia with assistant coach Johnny Sexton, the former Ireland flyhalf who previously suggested that Russell had beaten him to a spot on the 2021 tour because Gatland considered him "flashy" and a "media darling".
"He's still flash. Yeah, he would hate if I said he wasn't," Sexton joked to reporters on Friday. "But no, I think in the last couple of years, he's really come into his own as a 10 and being able to manage the team.
"Ultimately, that's the main job that he's got tomorrow, to manage all the guys around him, and then his brilliance will come out once he's into the game."
Sexton said he had been impressed with the work the apparently carefree Russell does on his game behind the scenes as well as with his defensive efforts in the tour matches.
"He's probably been our best defender in the back line on this tour so far, I would say," Sexton added.
"And that's the thing that you always knew, that it was in there with him. He's a feisty guy out there in terms of physicality. He doesn't look that big but he's fronted up big time this tour with a lot of impact tackles. And we'll need him tomorrow in that regard, because they'll come down his channel I'm sure."
Sexton said evidence of Russell's increased maturity had come when the Scot led Bath to the English Premiership title before joining up with the Lions.
"You can see it with Bath, getting to finals and winning trophies," he added.
"You can't do that if you're just that kind of mercurial 10, you know what I mean? You've seen that this year in particular. He's got his team over the line and he's won a few trophies and he's carried that form into here."
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Mitch Phillips)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Rugby Australia want 'accountability' on late call in Lions test
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said he would seek an explanation from World Rugby on the late call by referee Andrea Piardi that ultimately decided the match and the series in the second test against the British & Irish Lions. Hugo Keenan's last-minute try gave the Lions a 29-26 win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but the Irish fullback only scored after Jac Morgan had cleared out Carlo Tizzano in a ruck in the buildup. The Wallabies wanted a penalty for high contact but Piardi allowed the try to stand, a decision slammed by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt in his post-match press conference as contrary to World Rugby's campaign to improve player safety. "Joe's comments at the press conference were 100% aligned with mine as a CEO and a former Wallaby," Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Our position on that particular decision is consistent to what Joe outlined in his analysis of that last breakdown. "Clearly there'll be the usual process, which is what happens after every test match, and we'll certainly be looking for a level of accountability from World Rugby over the next period of time." Waugh will not have to go far to air his views with senior World Rugby officials in Sydney this week for events looking forward to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Saturday's victory gave the Lions an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series ahead of the third and final test at Sydney's Stadium Australia this weekend. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Rugby-Lions boss Farrell focused on series sweep after Melbourne victory
(Reuters) -British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell is determined to keep his team focused on winning the third and final test against Australia after the tourists wrapped up the series by beating the Wallabies 29-26 in Melbourne on Saturday. Hugo Keenan's last-minute try secured the win at Melbourne Cricket Ground that gave the Lions an unassailable lead in the three-match series. "The plan will stay the same," Farrell told reporters. "Win or lose we trust the plan ahead." It was the Lions' first series win since they beat the Wallabies 2-1 in 2013, and Farrell believes the achievement has earned his players the right to be considered Lions legends. "We've made history haven't we, so does that warrant that kind of tag?" he said. "Why not? We came to do what we've done tonight and we should all celebrate." The Lions had to do it the hard way in Melbourne, coming back from 23-5 down in the first half before narrowing the deficit to six points just before the break. Tadhg Beirne's bulldozing try just before the hour mark reduced the gap further and Keenan's last-minute effort decided the match and the series. "These are one of the moments in your life that you will cherish, this will live long in the memory," said captain Maro Itoje. "Often in sport you have to move on to the next thing and focus on what's next, focus on the next challenge and no doubt we will do that after tonight's celebration but every now and again it's important to savour the moment." (Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Peter Rutherford)
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Rugby-Wallabies coach Schmidt slams match officials over late call in loss to Lions
Rugby Union - Australia v British and Irish Lions - Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia - July 26, 2025 British and Irish Lions' Owen Farrell celebrates with teammates after the match James Ross/AAP Image via REUTERS MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australia coach Joe Schmidt said match officials had failed to uphold player safety and hit out at a late clear-out decision that ensured the British & Irish Lions clinched a series-sealing victory on Saturday. Fullback Hugo Keenan's last-minute try put the Lions 29-26 up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but the Wallabies players cried foul after Jac Morgan cleared out Carlo Tizzano in the buildup. After a lengthy pause as the TV match official assessed multiple angles of the incident, the try was allowed to stand, giving the Lions victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Citing rugby's Law 9.20, which says head contact and clear-outs around the neck should be penalised, an incensed Schmidt said the officials had got the decision wrong. "Because they're human, match officials make errors," he said at the post-match press conference. "We felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they're (World Rugby) talking about. "You cannot hit someone above ... the shoulders. "But that's what we've seen and we've watched a number of replays from different angles so it is what it is and we just have to accept it." Wallabies captain Harry Wilson was also convinced his team were hard done by. "Obviously I saw shoulder to the neck. Carlo was pretty sore about it," he said. Lions coach Andy Farrell had a different view. "I thought it was a brilliant clear-out," he said. "Honestly, it depends which side of the fence you come from, I would have thought. "I can understand people's opinions, but I thought Jac was brilliant when he came on -- and so were the rest of the bench." Schmidt said he was proud of his players but gutted by the final result after the Wallabies had taken a 23-5 lead near the half-hour mark. While the Wallabies were bitterly disappointed that the clear-out decision had gone against them, they did not need to use it as motivation for the dead rubber in Sydney next Saturday. "You can't get more motivated than what the players showed tonight," he added. "You've got to keep resolve and keep going forward. "We're not going to wallow in self-pity." (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
