Johnny Sexton has been added to the British & Irish Lions coaching staff for a summer tour of Australia, following previous criticism of Finn Russell and Owen Farrell’s support, in a surprising move that has brought more intrigue to the fly-half selection debate.
Sexton wasn’t named after Andy Farrell when the head coach announced his assistant for the tour last month, but he’ll now join Simon Easterby, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman, Richard Wigglesworth and John Fogerty on his coaching ticket. The 39-year-old will join the coaching staff of Ireland at the end of the Lions Tour.
Sexton, who won five Six Nations winners medals after the 2023 World Cup, toured twice with the Lions and began all three tests of his 2013 trip to Australia with fly half. He was on the bench for the first Test of the 2017 series against New Zealand, but he won his place for the latter two as the Lions came from behind and scored a draw. He is a surprise omission from his 2021 tour of South Africa, and in his autobiography of his disappointment he admits to “kill me to this day.”
His opinion on the selection meeting is fascinating given the plot of Pharrell as to who should choose in the fly half. Russell is widely seen as a favorite of the No. 10 starting jersey, but Sexton has been lightly paring about Scottish fly half in the past. He also provided a complicated rating for Marcus Smith, who was a late call to the 2021 Lions Tour in place of Sexton, and recently worked closely with Irish duo Sam Prendagast and Jack Crowley. Sexton also praises Owen Farrell, who toured with the Lions in 2013 and 2017, but has struggled with form in Race 92, while FinSmith and George Ford are also contenders.
In his autobiography, he writes: [head coach Warren Gatland] Go with Owen Farrell and Dan Biggar, the player who previously delivered for him. Quality players and proven winners. Finn Russell was a media beloved during that year’s Six Nations, but he didn’t look like a Gatland player to me. I thought Gut chose three outer harvesters and if he was true to his ideals I would have been in. ”
When asked about the Lions’ choice in a subsequent interview with the Times, the former Irish captain said: “I’m going to choose Owen Farrell. Who do you want if you’re tough? I think the game is really good.
Andy Farrell chose to publicly elaborate the specific rights of the coach, but it is unclear exactly that Goodman is the back coach of Ireland and that Sexton will be tasked with being given Goodman with Wigglesworth looking after England’s offense. During the Six Nations, Sexton worked with Ireland in an informal ability with an emphasis on kicking and coaching young players.
“We are extremely excited to continue the next chapter in our coaching journey with the Lions in the UK and Ireland, and we would like to thank Andy for this incredible opportunity,” Sexton said. “We promise to be an exciting tour to Australia and know that we are experiencing the challenges that await us. Playing for the Lions is a major ambition during my playing career, and memories of our tours to Australia and New Zealand will be with me forever.”
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Andy Farrell, who will name the team for the summer tour on May 8th, said of Sexton’s appointment:
“That Lions team and its series victory is the only victory in the last 24 years and should not be underestimated. His fight and dedication as a player is what he brings to this Lions Tour and we know that players will soften his experience and expertise along with all of our assistant coaches.”
