Former Australian international Kurtley Beale says Finn Russell is the player that could lead the Lions to victory in the Test series.
Beale, who played in all three Tests for the Wallabies in 2013, is set to face the Lions again for Western Force when the tour gets underway in earnest here in Perth on Saturday.
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Russell is expected to start the game for Andy Farrell’s tourists after helping Bath win their first Premiership title since 1996, a couple of weeks ago.
Farrell names his squad on Thursday.
Beale, 36, told The Australian newspaper, “I played with him at Racing and he’s such a mercurial, unpredictable player. And I think with a forward pack like he will have in front of him, he can create a lot of damage.
”He’s obviously got some exciting backs outside him as well who will thrive off of his delivery, his service. So I’d think he’d be the danger man.”
Beale had a stellar international career but infamously slipped when he lined up to take a potential match-winning penalty in the first Test in 2013.
He missed, the Lions won 23-21, and although Australia bounced back to win the second test, they lost the decider and the series.
