Finn Russell may be in his third British and Irish tour Lions but 32-year-old Scotland Flyhalf will wear the red jersey number 10 for the first time on Saturday’s test when he takes the field against Australia.

Russell’s test experience with tourists has been limited to 69 minutes as a replacement for Dan Biggar in the 2021 decision maker after the injury prevented him from playing the first two matches against Springbox.

In 2017 in New Zealand, Russell was one of the six – half -dozen player geography called for only a mid -week match against Welington Hurricanes to defend the test team in a move, coach Warren Gatland later said he repented.

On Saturday, the 32-year-old with boot and the volatile ability to turn a defense inside out finally gets his ability to lead Lions The back line from the beginning of a test as it was one of Andy Farrell’s least controversial choices.

Russell worked in Australia with assistant coach Johnny Sexton, former -Ireland Flyhalf who previously suggested that Russell beat him in a place in the 2021 tour because Gatland considered it “flammable“And a”Dear media“

“He’s still flash. Yes, he would hate if I were to say it wasn’t,“Sexton jokes with reporters on Friday.

“But no, I think in the last two years, he has really come to his own as 10 and being able to manage the team.

“After all, this is the main job he has taken tomorrow, to manage all the boys around him, and then his splendor will come out after he is in the game.“

Sexton said he had been impressed with the work that seems to be careful Russell in his game behind the scenes, as well as his defensive efforts in the tour matches.

“He has probably been our best defender on the back line on this tour so far, I would say,“Sexton added.

“And that’s the thing you always knew, that it was there with it. He is a engaged boy there in terms of physique. He does not look so big, but he is ahead of this tournament with many impact meetings. And we will need me tomorrow in this regard, because they will go down his channel I’m sure.“

Sexton said the rehearsals of Russell’s adult maturity came when Scotland led the bathroom to the English Prime Minister’s title before joining the lions.

“You can see it with the bath, going to the finals and winning trophies,“He added.

“You can’t do this if you are just that kind of Mercury 10, you know what I mean? You’ve seen this year in particular. He has his team on the line and he has won some trophies and he has done that form here.“