Scottish star Finn Russell has revealed he’s eager to team up with England’s Owen Farrell on the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, despite years of intense rivalry on the pitch.
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The two fly-halves have often been at odds as the key playmakers for their respective nations, but during the pandemic-hit Lions tour to South Africa in 2021, they struck up an unlikely friendship.
Russell admits that while they “view the game differently,” he discovered there’s more to Farrell than the fiery persona that dominates English rugby.
“We view the game differently so there would be a bit of a clash there, but we are good enough mates that we would get on with it,” said Russell at an event hosted by TNT Sports.
“We would have to find that balance between us, but he’s a brilliant player and I would love to play with him.
“I got on really well with Owen in 2021. I’d heard he was so focused and he was intense, but I didn’t see any of that at all. I thought he was quite chilled out. He was relaxed and I had a laugh with him.
“We have always had an interesting relationship when we have played against each other. At the start it was head to head but then recently, even before the Lions, it turned into a friendship.
“Before it was me against you and by the end of it, it was still me against you, but we could have a laugh while we were doing it.
“At the end I looked forward to playing against him, for his competitiveness but I liked the bloke. It changed as the years have gone on.”
Predicted 42 Player Squad for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia
Tour Captain: Jamie George (England and Saracens)
LOOSE-HEAD PROPS
Starting XV: Andre Porter (Ireland and Leinster)
Replacement: Ellis Genge (England and Bristol Bears)
Non-Test: Pierre Schoeman (Scotland and Edinburgh)
We commence this almighty squad list with the loose-head props, as a trio of top talents will be staking their claims to be number one for the Lions. We begin our picks with the man regarded as being pound for pound the strongest professional rugby player, as Andrew Porter has previously recorded unbelievable squat rack lifts of 350kg. The Leinster man was unfortunate to miss out of the 2021 Tour to South Africa, having been previously selected by head coach Warren Gatland, only to suffer a toe injury ahead of the trip.
Our replacement loose-head option is a man that recently sat out England’s 2024 Summer tour to New Zealand, as Ellis Genge has been battling back from the sidelines with a calf injury. The Bristol Bears front row saw out the season with the West Country side, but was forced to the medical bay to ensure he comes back stronger for the 2024/25 season. Genge would be chomping at the bit for an inclusion in the 2025 Lions tour, in what would be his first involvement in the famous red jersey.
We would love to hear cries of ‘schooooeeee’ echo from the Gold Coast to Perth, with our inclusion of Scotland and Edinburgh prop Pierre Schoeman amongst the loose-heads. The South African born front rower has been hitting career-best form in recent outings under Gregor Townsend, with solid scrummaging performances in the Rugby World Cup making him the go-to Scottish loose-head throughout the 2024 Guinness Six Nations.
TIGHT-HEAD PROPS
Starting XV: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland and Leinster)
Replacement: Zander Fagerson (Scotland and Glasgow Warriors)
Non-Test: Finlay Bealham (Ireland and Connacht)
Ireland are spoiled for choice with top quality tight-heads, and we can see Andy Farrell picking two of his Irish talents when it comes to picking his touring Lions pack. Beginning with arguably the best number three in the world, Tadhg Furlong’s recent clinic of scrummaging prowess in South Africa reminded the forward-proud Springboks on what the top Northern Hemisphere packs bring to the table. At 31-years-old, this could be the last chance to see the Leinster man in the red of the Lions, as he could become a three-time tourist and complete the trilogy of destinations.
Scotland’s resident battering ram rounds up our touring props, as we expect to see Zander Fagerson get the go ahead for his second tour with the British & Irish Lions. Fagerson did not feature in the three Test matches against South Africa on the 2021 tour, but he did get on the pitch in the first fixture, and became Lion number 848, as he ran out against the Emirates Lions. This battle of the Lions was Fagerson’s sole appearence and he remains officially uncapped in the red jersey, with the Scot hoping to change his favour and return from the Australia with a fetching new cap for the mantle-piece.
Supporting Furlong for Ireland, Finaly Bealham could well take up the same impact-player role that has brought him great successes in Andy Farrell’s side. Exploding off the bench with his iconic cornrows blowing in the wind, Bealham never fails to up the tempo of Ireland’s scrum and brings a powerful first step to any of his involvements around the park. The Connacht man was overlooked as a late replacement for the 2021 tour, as Kyle Sinckler was instead called-up as injury cover four years ago.