Johnny Sexton has been added to the British & Irish Lions coaching staff for their summer tour of Australia. This move has generated discussion regarding the fly-half selection, given Sexton's previous comments about Finn Russell and his support for Owen Farrell. Sexton's appointment was not included in the initial announcement of assistant coaches last month by head coach Andy Farrell. He will now join Simon Easterby, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman, Richard Wigglesworth, and John Fogarty. Following the Lions tour, Sexton, 39, will also join Farrell’s coaching staff with Ireland. Sexton, who retired after the 2023 World Cup with five Six Nations titles, toured with the Lions twice as a player. In 2013, he started all three Tests in Australia at fly-half. In 2017, he was on the bench for the first Test against New Zealand but returned to the starting lineup for the subsequent two Tests, contributing to the series draw. He was notably absent from the 2021 tour of South Africa and has expressed his disappointment in his autobiography. His involvement in selection meetings is expected to be closely watched, particularly concerning the fly-half position. While Russell is considered a frontrunner for the starting role, Sexton has previously been critical of the Scottish player. He has also given varied assessments of Marcus Smith, who was a late addition to the 2021 Lions tour in place of Sexton, and has recently worked with Irish players Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley. Sexton has also spoken highly of Owen Farrell, with whom he toured with the Lions in 2013 and 2017, though Farrell's recent form with Racing 92 has been inconsistent. Other contenders for the fly-half position include Fin Smith and George Ford. In his autobiography, Sexton stated that he anticipated Warren Gatland, the head coach at the time, would favor Owen Farrell and Dan Biggar, players with a track record under Gatland. He added that while Finn Russell was popular in the media during that year's Six Nations, he did not seem like a typical Gatland player. In an interview with the Times, Sexton said he would choose Owen Farrell, citing his resilience in tough situations. He acknowledged Marcus Smith's talent and ability to energize a game but reiterated his preference for Farrell. Andy Farrell has not specified the roles of his coaches, leaving Sexton's precise responsibilities unclear, especially with Goodman as Ireland’s backs coach and Wigglesworth overseeing England’s attack. During the Six Nations, Sexton worked with Ireland in an informal capacity, focusing on kicking and mentoring younger players. Sexton expressed his enthusiasm for joining the British & Irish Lions coaching staff, thanking Andy Farrell for the opportunity. He acknowledged the challenges of the tour to Australia, drawing on his past experiences as a player. Andy Farrell, who will announce his squad for the summer tour on May 8, noted that he first coached Sexton during the 2013 Lions Tour to Australia and recognized Sexton's dedication to the team. He emphasized Sexton's influence on the 2013 series win and the value of his experience and expertise to the players.
