Johnny Sexton takes swipe at Finn Russell and Marcus Smith

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Former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has reignited his long-standing rivalry with Scotland’s Finn Russell, dismissing the fellow British & Irish Lions fly-half as “flashy” in a candid new interview.

Find your local Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!

The 39-year-old, who retired from rugby following the 2023 World Cup, has been making headlines recently after a series of bold claims in his new autobiography, where he doesn’t hold back in critiquing both players and coaches from his past.

2021 Lions Snub Still Hurts

One of the key talking points in Sexton's autobiography is his exclusion from the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, a decision that continues to haunt the Irishman. In the book, Sexton admits that missing out on selection "kills me to this day," as he was passed over in favour of Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar, and Finn Russell.

While Farrell and Biggar had been previous favourites of Lions head coach Warren Gatland, Sexton suggests that Russell's media appeal played a significant role in his selection.

"Competition was tight, I'll admit," Sexton wrote. "I expected Gats would go with Owen Farrell and Dan Biggar, players who had delivered for him before. Quality players and proven winners.

“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. I reckoned that if Gats chose three out-halves and if he was true to his ideals, I was in."

Thoughts on the Next Lions Fly-Half

In a recent interview with The Times, Sexton didn’t mince his words when discussing the future of the Lions’ number 10 jersey for the 2025 tour to Australia. While he praised Owen Farrell for his reliability in high-pressure matches, Sexton was far less enthusiastic about Russell and England's Marcus Smith.

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

He then changed his mind, leaving Russell as the only member of the “flashy” bracket, as he added: "Marcus, I think, is a generational talent. I actually wouldn't really include him. He looks flashy, but I think he manages the game really well. I think he can light up a game. But for me, I'd like Owen. He can do some remarkable things.”

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Six England stars who could switch nations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup

Under the revised rules, players can represent a new nation if they've gone three years without a Test cap and have a qualifying birthright through a parent or grandparent.

While some players have hinted at potential switches, others are already positioning themselves for a move. Here are six England stars who could pull on a different jersey in 2027.

Ollie Hassell-Collins – From the Rose to the Dragon?

Ollie Hassell-Collins has made it clear—if England don't come calling soon, he's open to switching to Wales.

The Leicester Tigers winger, capped twice by England in the 2023 Six Nations, has been frozen out under Steve Borthwick. But with Welsh ancestry on his side, he'll qualify for Warren Gatland's squad in early 2026.

Gatland himself has already hinted he'd welcome Hassell-Collins into the Welsh camp, and the speedster hasn't ruled it out either.

“I have seen Gatland's interview. I've got two caps for England, and obviously I'm English. But if I don't see anything in the next few years then it's definitely something that I would consider.”

With Wales on the hunt for attacking firepower, a switch to the valleys could be on the cards.

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