MIGHTY FINN IS NO FLASH IN THE PAN

Russell is backed to rise to the occasion in Brisbane opener

- From Adam Hathaway in Brisbane

JOHNNY SEXTON has had a dramatic change of mind about Finn Russell and has tipped his longtime rival to steer the British & Irish Lions home against Australia.

The former Ireland fly-half is a kicking coach on the tour Down Under and has buried the hatchet with Scotland’s Russell, who he once described as “flashy”.

Sexton was put out when then head coach Warren Gatland picked Russell ahead of him for the 2021 tour to South Africa, but insists the 32-year-old is now a different player to the one he faced on the pitch.

Russell was the main man for Bath as he guided the club to a Treble of trophies this season, including the Premiership title, and Sexton insists the Scot has proved he is the man for the big occasion — and that another is coming in today’s first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane.

Sexton said with a smile: “He’s still flash, yeah! He’d hate it if I said, ‘No’.