Starting all three Tests of the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour as fly-half was one of the proudest moments of my career.
The red No 10 shirt comes with severe pressure and a significant weight of history. Luckily, I was used to that as it was the same with Wales!
Being Lions fly-half is also an incredible achievement and opportunity. That’s what Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith can look forward to in Australia this summer.
You’re the team’s playmaker and orchestrator-in-chief. There is very little time on a Lions tour to prepare, so you have to get up to speed very quickly. That might seem hard, but you’re playing with the best of the best, so it is possible to gel quickly.
What’s different about this tour is that the squad is a fair bit younger than on previous trips, and that applies at fly-half.
In 2017, I went to New Zealand alongside Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell; Russell was a late call-up. I mainly held tackle bags and drank beer while having a few run-outs in the midweek games!
Finn Russell is in pole position to be the British & Irish Lions Test fly-half – an incredible achievement. The red No 10 shirt comes with severe pressure and a weight of history
Marcus Smith is a running threat and was deservedly selected after a tough few months
Fin Smith is not as flash as Russell, but he manipulates defences with his passing
Four years later it was different with Johnny left out and me alongside Owen and Finn. All those guys were experienced, which is important. And that’s why I think Finn Russell is in pole position to be the Test fly-half. He is a fair bit ahead of the two Smiths in terms of international know-how and although it’s not all about that, I’d be surprised if he didn’t start the Australia series.
Russell is an exceptional player. He’s been there and done it and played against big teams regularly. His form has been good too. Perhaps he dipped a little bit in the Six Nations with Scotland, but he’s been excellent for Bath.
Fin isn’t a million miles away from Finn in terms of style. He’s not as flash, but he manipulates defences with his passing. That’s why I think Andy Farrell hasn’t picked Sam Prendergast. If he’d gone for Prendergast alongside Finn and Fin, I think the fly-half trio would have been too similar.
Marcus brings something totally different. He’s a running threat and can step and beat people in attack. I’m really pleased he’s been selected after a tough few months. The fact he can play at full back too is another string to his bow.
Clearly, the fact Fin outplayed Prendergast in Northampton’s Champions Cup win over Leinster played a part in the selection. Fin is a much better defender than Prendergast. It’s an area of the game the Irishman needs to go away and work at.
Under Farrell, the Lions are going down the Irish route in terms of style of play. Ireland’s approach is very well set out with pods of forwards in set positions. Everyone in their side knows where to be at all times.
With 15 Irish players, the Lions have to continue down that route. It’s important they do so because as a coach, you have to play a style you believe in. In 2017, the Wales players knew what to expect because Warren Gatland and Rob Howley were in charge.
In 2021, it was different because Gregor Townsend headed up the attack and wanted a very Scottish style which was obviously new to me. I’m sure Farrell will sit down with his three No 10s very quickly to make clear what he wants. For example, Finn’s huge strength is his passing. But he is not always as connected to every pod of forwards as someone like Prendergast.
Instead, he hangs back a bit and looks for his moment to strike and make the killer pass. That’s maybe something he’ll have to work on with Farrell because he is so big on having a structured attacking shape.
Andy Farrell will sit down with his three No 10s very quickly to make clear what he wants
Russell looks for his moment to strike and make the killer pass but Farrell prefers a structure
It would not be a surprise if Smith competes hard for a Test spot or even overtakes Russell
Finn is not as structured and Marcus is even further away from that. He likes to play completely off the cuff. I think Farrell will like what Fin brings. You’ve seen with Northampton how good Fin is at picking off opposition defenders.
With Farrell and assistant Andrew Goodman driving an Irish-based attacking system, Englishman Richard Wigglesworth can provide a nice balance.
He’ll be telling the three fly-halves, as well as Jamison Gibson-Park, Alex Mitchell and Tomos Williams as the No 9s, the best options to take in the middle third of the field.
Overall, I like the make-up of the squad. With what he’s got at his disposal in the back line, Russell has players who want the ball in their hands early. That will suit him. It’s also an added bonus that he plays with Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones – who will probably be the centre pairing – with Scotland.
Things always change on a Lions tour. Injuries happen.
Fin has had a remarkable season, so it really wouldn’t surprise me if he competes hard for a Test spot or even overtakes Russell at some point during the tour.
For someone who is still only 22, Fin has played in a lot of big games over a short period of time. I’m sure he’ll be a great asset to the Lions, as will all the players.
This is a squad who should beat Australia 2-1.
