Finn Russell laughed off suggestions of there being any tension between him and Johnny Sexton ahead of the pair working together for the British and Irish Lions. 

Russell also revealed that Lions coach Andy Farrell had helped the pair rebuild their relationship after their fierce rivalry during their playing days. 

Sexton called time on his 17-year professional career after the 2023 World Cup and is now part of the Lions' backroom staff for their upcoming tour of Australia. 

The 39-year-old was named as Farrell's assistant back in April, seeing him reunited with Scotland fly-half Russell, who have had their differences over the years. 

Sexton said in his autobiography that Russell's status as the "darling of the media" swayed Warren Gatland's decision to pick the fly-half for the 2021 Lions tour. 

He also said in an interview with The Times last October that he would have picked Owen Farrell over "flashy" Russell for the Lions tour this summer.

"It's just a bit of a craic I suppose. It was never a thing," Russell said. "When we came in, we had a laugh straight away and Andy [Farrell] kind of put it to bed so that was good.

"Not that it was ever going to be an issue I don't believe. I think we're all here with the same goal which is to win the series.

"I've only been here a few days but it's been good working with Johnny. I'm happy to bounce questions off him and chat to him about what he's seeing because with the numbers we've had he's had to jump in sometimes. So it's been quite funny being on the same training side as him.

"It's good to have a guy with experience here. All the coaches seem open to have conversations and have chats. It's a good environment to be in."

Settling in for the long haul #Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/ujl6b3ntVI

— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 22, 2025

Russell will be hoping to help inspire the Lions to a series win against Australia in what will be his third tour with the squad. 

He was part of the "Geography Six" in 2017 who received a late call-up from Gatland to help bolster the squad ahead of the Test series. 

In 2021, Russell played in the third Test against South Africa, with the Lions aiming to seal their first series win since 2013. 

"I think as a collective, as a group, we've set our own standards of what we want to do on this tour and how we want to be remembered," Russell said.

"I think all the players and everyone have deserved their spot on this tour. I think it's going out there and being themselves. I enjoy doing that.

"We've spoken about what we want to be and who we represent. But I think the main thing is just going out there and not overthinking it.

"Don't change anything, just go out there and be yourself."

Russell added his hopes that the Lions will be given the freedom to play expansive rugby in Australia, saying: "I wouldn't say there's a typical Lions way. I think that would depend on the coach.

"I think with Andy there and the coaching staff we've got here, it's hopefully going to be a free-flowing, fast style of rugby we're going to play. There's obviously a lot of structure in there but then at times if there's no structure we're happy to play unstructured rugby as well.

"So it's getting that balance of using structure to create unstructured and then go from there. I think it's just different types of coaching."

Russell sat out the Lions' 28-24 defeat to Argentina in Dublin as the Pumas registered their first victory over the touring party in their history. Farrell's side now travel to Australia ahead of their match against Western Force next Saturday.