British and Irish Lions: Coach Johnny Sexton ‘not surprised’ by record Ireland contingent

Johnny Sexton says he was not surprised to see a record number of Ireland players selected in the British and Irish Lions squad, but accepts “everyone has their own opinion”.

Lions head coach Andy Farrell, who has also been Ireland boss since 2019, picked 15 in his initial 38-man squad for the Australia tour and last week called up Connacht prop Finlay Bealham following Zander Fagerson’s injury.

When asked about the strong Ireland contingent – 12 Leinster players, three from Connacht and one from Munster – Sexton pointed to the national team’s form in recent years.

“Well, Ireland have done pretty well over the last few years, having won the [Six Nations] championship last year, the Grand Slam the year before, so you’re probably looking over the last three years,” said the former Ireland captain, who is a kicking coach in Farrell’s Lions backroom team.

“With some players, coaches would look at form over eight, nine years. It’s not just if you’ve played well in a couple of games in the Six Nations, you can’t force your way in, but sometimes you take a bigger picture look with players.

“They know the way Andy coaches, they know the system. It didn’t surprise me because historically, let’s say when there was a Welsh coach and the Welsh team did well, there were the majority of the Welsh team.

“I think the teams that performed the best in the Six Nations got selected.”