Johnny Sexton takes swipe at 'flashy' Finn Russell and makes huge Owen Farrell claim

The former Ireland captain has made another dig at the Scotland star after making claims in his new book

Former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has taken another swipe at Scotland's Finn Russell, dismissing his fellow British & Irish Lions fly-half as 'flashy' in a new interview.

The 39-year-old, who retired from rugby following last year's World Cup, has made headlines in recent days after making a series of claims against players and coaches past and present in his new autobiography. In the book, he lifts the lid on his spat with "fake humbler f***er" Rieko Ioane and feud with "coward" Ronan O'Gara, while he also slams the "crazy" and "unprofessional" environment of a Lions tour under Warren Gatland.

One extract also sees Sexton reflect on missing out on selection for the 2021 Lions tour, a snub which he claims "kills me to this day", with Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar and Russell selected ahead of him. While the Irish star says he is still waiting for answers from Gatland, he also suggests the Scotland skipper was picked due to his position as "darling of the media".

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“Competition was tight, I’ll admit," he wrote. "I expected that 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.” Get the latest Welsh rugby breaking news by signing up to our free daily newsletter here.

In an interview with the Times, Sexton again made his feelings clear on his former fly-half rival as he gave his thoughts on who should wear the 10 jersey for the Lions during next year's tour to Australia. While he heaped praise on Farrell, he was far less effusive about Russell and, initially, England's Marcus Smith.

“I’d pick Owen Farrell,” he said. “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. . .”

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."

Russell and Sexton are admittedly contrasting players and personalities but the Scotsman has in the past praised the Ireland legend, describing him as his country's "main man" and a "dangerous and great" player.

Sexton continued to praise his friend Farrell, however, and went on to claim that if the former England skipper played for Ireland, he would be considered their greatest-ever player. Farrell, of course, who stepped away from international rugby after the World Cup to prioritise his and his family's mental well-being after being booed and subjected to online abuse.

“If Owen Farrell were Irish, he’d be considered the greatest player that we’ve had," said Sexton. "An amazing competitor. But for some reason he just didn’t get that [respect]. He’s one of the best team-mates I’ve ever had. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever played with.

"It’s tough to see him not playing international rugby. He’s someone that should be playing international rugby still and captaining England. I have nothing but admiration for him. When you know him as a person, you see the real Owen Farrell.”