Can't help falling Finn love with you

JOHNNY SEXTON has had a dramatic change of mind about Finn Russell and has tipped his long-time rival to steer the Lions home against the Wallabies.

- from ADAM HATHAWAY in Brisbane

Former Ireland fly-half Sexton is a kicking coach on the tour and has buried the hatchet with Scotland's Russell, who he once described as "flashy

Sexton was put out when Warren Gatland picked Russell ahead of him for the 2021 tour to South Africa but insists he is a different player to the one he played against.

Russell was the main man as he guided Bath to a treble of trophies this season, including the Premiership title, and Sexton says he has proved he is the man for the big occasion.

And another is coming today in Brisbane.

Sexton joked: "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 that kind of mercurial 10.