Bath boss Johann van Graan has given his verdict on Finn Russell’s British and Irish Lions chances now that Johnny Sexton has joined Andy Farrell’s staff for the upcoming tour to Australia.

The retired Ireland legend was massively upset in 2021 when Scotland number 10 Russell was chosen instead of him by Warren Gatland as the third fly-half on the tour to South Africa along with Dan Biggar and Owen Farrell, a wound added to by the mid-tour call-up handed to then-rookie Marcus Smith.

This snub hasn’t been forgotten with Sexton dwelling on it at length in the post-playing autobiography he published last year after he stepped away as a player following the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

“Who do you want in there when the going gets tough? Test-match animals,” claimed Sexton, explaining his liking for Farrell before dismissing the merits of Russell’s 2021 Lions selection.

Thursday’s revelation that Sexton will tour with the Lions has generated plenty of commentary

“Finn Russell was the darling of the media during that year’s Six Nations,” he wrote, dismissing Scotland’s fourth-place 2021 Six Nations campaign as nothing achieved other than a final round success against a French team that “handed them the result” by “chasing a bonus point when the game was over”.

It was last month when Lions head coach Andy Farrell announced a five-strong coaching ticket for Australia consisting of Scotland’s John Dalziel, England’s Richard Wigglesworth and Irish trio Simon Easterby, John Fogarty and Andrew Goodman.

22 days on from that March 26 unveiling in London, Farrell stirred the tour pot by naming Sexton as his sixth assistant coach on Thursday, a revelation that quickly generated plenty of commentary about what the ex-Ireland number 10 had alleged about Russell regarding the 2021 Lions selection.

For example, ex-England fly-half Stuart Barnes described Sexton as scarred and suggested he needed to pick up the phone and call Russell to ensure that there would be no acrimony between them heading into the 2025 tour, a trip that the Scotland player is expected to be chosen for when the squad is named on May 8.

It was the summer of 2023 when Van Graan, who had previously worked in the Irish system as Munster head coach, brought Russell to Bath and the former Racing 92 orchestrator inspired The Rec-based club to the runners-up spot in the 2024 Gallagher Premiership.

Ahead of their latest Premiership assignment away to Exeter this Saturday, the South African was asked at his weekly Bath media briefing about what Russell’s relationship could be like with Sexton if Farrell names him next month in the squad to tour Australia.

“I’m sure if Finn gets selected for the Lions that there will be no issue,” said Van Graan in quotes published by RugbyPass. “One of the things that we have got in our game is respect.

“It doesn’t matter what team you have played for, or what country you are from… if you just look at the Barbarians, they have got this ability to just tie people together within one day or one session.

“They [Farrell and Sexton] will combine very well for the Lions because the Lions are one of the coolest teams in my book in world rugby.”

Van Graan added that Andy Farrell is an ideal Lions head coach, but he also recalled the impact that Russell made in the 2021 Test series decider against the Springboks after he was summoned from the bench as an early first-half replacement for the injured Biggar.

“Andy is a phenomenal coach, and he will know exactly what he wants and how the Lions want to play. But I remember watching the third Test back on the last Lions tour in South Africa and the difference Finn made. Obviously, from a club point of view, we would love for Finn to be involved with the Lions. Fingers crossed that he is in that team.

“I can really only comment on his form for Bath but Finn has had a fantastic season, as he had last season. One thing about Finn – and that is why he is a world-class player – is he never plays below an eight out of 10. Sometimes it’s a nine out of 10 and then some weekends it’s a 10 out of 10.

“He has been very consistent, whether it be his attack, his kicking game, his decision-making, his defence, his presence or his special moments. He is a special player. In my view, he is one of the best 10s in the world game.”

READ MORE: Ex-England fly-half tells the ‘scarred’ Johnny Sexton how to resolve his ‘irritable fury’ with Finn Russell

Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/respect-johann-van-graan-wades-into-the-johnny-sexton-finn-russell-lions-debate