San Francisco Frontiers - Russell says he's buried Sexton hatchet as old rivals united in quest for Lions glory

Ireland great Sexton has previously criticised Scotland fly-half Russell as "flashy" and a "media darling", while adding he would select Owen Farrell -- Andy's son -- at No 10 in a three-Test campaign against the Wallabies because the former England captain is a "Test match animal".

And in his autobiography, former Ireland fly-half Sexton wrote it "kills me to this day" that he was overlooked in favour of Russell for the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa.

Such comments had the potential to cause lingering tension given the now retired Sexton is a member of Farrell's staff as the Lions' kicking skills coach, with Russell in line to be the chief playmaker for a team made up of leading players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

But Russell said the issue was quickly dealt with when he joined up with the Lions' squad.

"It's just been bit of a craic, it was never a thing," said Russell, who did not feature in the Lions' tour-opening 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin on Friday.

"When we came in, we had a laugh straight away and Andy kind of put it to bed so that was good. Not that it was ever going to be an issue, I don't believe. We're all here with the same goal, which is to win the series.

"I've only been here a few days but it's been good working with Johnny. I'm happy to bounce questions off him and chat to him about what he's seeing...It's good to have a guy with his experience here. I can chat to him and bounce things off him as and when I need."

Australia will be Russell's third tour with the Lions.

In 2017 in New Zealand he was part of the so-called 'Geography Six', a group of Scotland and Wales players who were controversially called into Warren Gatland's squad not on merit but because of their physical proximity while on tour with their national sides.

Four years later he travelled to South Africa where all matches in a losing series against the world champion Springboks were played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"New Zealand was still amazing because it was my first time being called up to the Lions," said Russell. "We weren't there for the whole tour, but to have gone to New Zealand and played was really cool for me.

"And then in 2021 it was special going the whole time, even though it was Covid. We couldn't have family and friends or fans at the game, but it was still amazing in a different way...I'm looking forward to what this one's going to be like."

M.Hill--SFF