Back at the turn of the year, Finn Russell was a shoo-in to start half the fly for the British and Irish lions during their tour in Australia this summer.
Playing some of the best rugby in his career, the 32 -year -old man was Form 10 of the world rugby for a bathing bath which has since become the leaders in the premiere.
With a new maturity in his game, in addition to his inimitable box of stuff, Russell was to be the sorcerer of Oz for the lions below.
A few months further, however, little would be ready to bet the house on the 32 -year -old Scottish who begins this first test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19.
Of course, when head coach Andy Farrell appoints his Lions team on Thursday, there is no doubt that Russell will be on the plane. There is no question.
But beyond that? Well, all bets are disabled. According to his own high standards, Russell had six nations quite medium this year.
Russell drops a pressure pass during the Bath shock with Exeter last month
The Scottish Talisman puts pressure on Sexton during a six -nations confrontation in 2019
Russell did not appreciate his best six -nations campaign and criticized his own performances
He was very critical of his own performance in victory over Italy in the opening match and, from there, he never really found his stride.
But it is Johnny Sexton’s appointment to the Backroom team a few weeks ago that looked like an in progress in terms of Russell.
Although he was involved with Ireland for a handful of games since his retirement as a player, Sexton has been accelerated to a role of assistant coach under Farrell.
His trial will be to work with the braids of flies and to help the attack, working alongside the attack coach Andrew Goodman.
This is not good news for Russell. It is not a state secret that Sexton has a fairly weak vision of the Scottish superstar.
In an interview published last fall, Sexton called Russell “Flashy” and a “media darling”.
He described Marcus Smith of England in similar terms, before going back somewhat and declaring that the man of England is a “generational talent”.
Russell was a key man for Bath in their national and European campaigns this year
He should not revise his opinion on Russell. Sexton even went so far as to say that he would choose Owen Farrell – The forgotten man of test rugby – for lions.
“Who want there when things become difficult?” Test test animals, ”said Sexton, half of the most decorated fly of its generation.
“I know who the media would like. Finn Russell, Marcus Smith, Flashy. But I would choose Owen Farrell.
Sexton’s opinions on Russell have not been a secret. There had been a few Jibes from the Irishman over the years, but none pointed out that.
As players, they were chalk and cheese; Sexton one of the great controllers with his analytical spirit, Russell the free spirit that plays on instinct.
Well a player although he was, the fate of Sexton in race 92 between 2013 and 2015 was a disaster.
French fans did not buy it at all, when they loved Russell during his stay in Paris between 2018 and 2023.
Russell wore the famous Lions Red Lions jersey during the tour in 2021 in South Africa
Sexton cannot go back to these Russell comments now. They are a matter of public file.
With the selection of Squad Lions now just a few days old, Russell’s return this afternoon offers an intriguing sub-contrigue.
Bath will be in favor of Edinburgh in Edinburgh when the teams collided in the semi-finals of the European Cup of the hive.
After a six -nations not impressive, and now, with the additional complication of Sexton in the mixture as a Lions coach, Russell must finish the season strongly.
He can only have a few big games before the tour. A semi-final of the Challenge and the final cup, as well as the semi-finals of the Premierhip and the final.
This supposes, of course, that the bath reaches both rooms. With Russell in great shape for his club, as he was for much of the season, they should do that exactly.
But it’s time to shine. If he can finish the season by leading Bath to a double of the Première and Challenge Cup, he would go a little.
A young Russell keeps an eye on Sexton in Murrayfield in 2015
Speaking earlier this week, Edinburgh and Scotland Lock Grant Gilchrist promised to make life as uncomfortable as possible for Russell.
“We have so much respect for Finn and for Bath as a team, but they have a proposal in their hands if they think they come here just to walk in the park,” said the 34 -year -old man.
“We are not coming here on Saturday just on Saturday to hope it’s Cagey and hope they have a day off.
“They come to us and we have to go and put our game on it.
“If it’s not good enough, we can look at the mirror and say that we have been beaten by a better team. But our state of mind must be that we are pursuing them.
It’s easier to say that. Bath was exceptional this season. In 16 games on three different competitions, they reached the 40 -point mark.
They put more than 50 on the Falcons of Newcastle and Gloucester – and more than 60 on Gloucester and Saracens. They don’t only beat teams, they demolish them.
For a team from Edinburgh who continues to be incoherent under the head coach Sean Everitt, it is a challenge as difficult as they could have had.
The idea of playing the game in Murrayfield was floated, but the players of Edinburgh quickly struck this in the head. They want the tighter limits of the smallest hive. The crowd will be packed. Russell will not be in his familiar playground at the National Stadium.
Grant Gilchrist of Edinburgh celebrates the victory in the quarter -final of the challenge of his team against the Bulls against the Bulls
Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt urged men in the capital to seize the opportunity of a lifetime
But it is always a large -scale hell, with Everitt saying: “It is a massive task for us. Bath is the form team in the PREM in one way or another.
“They put a lot of good teams in bed in the first. If you watch the match against Newcastle, they become stronger over the game – they have been able to mark a lot of trials in the last 20 minutes.
“So, yes, it’s a great task for us. At the same time, we have experienced players within our group and international players too, so we are not intimidated by the task that awaits us.
“It will just be a big challenge to measure us with the best in England.
“It is certainly one of the biggest (games that I have been confronted with). I participated in semi-finals in super rugby and, obviously, the finals of the Currie Cup, but it is definitely up there with the biggest.
“Being in a European final, whether the champions cup or the Cup challenge, is massive for any frankness.
“Once again, we have the opportunity to win, and that is why we are in this company as sportsmen and professional coaches.”
Good luck in Edinburgh, but Finn is back in town. Whatever happens this afternoon, it will not be boring. More than anything, he must delete any doubt that he is the right man to wear this famous red jersey in summer.
