How Lynagh broke the news of Wallabies debut to famous father
By Tom Decent
Tom Lynagh has spent his life following in his famous father’s footsteps, dreaming of one day wearing a Wallabies jersey.
That reality is closer than ever. If the 21-year-old gets the word from Australia coach Joe Schmidt to take off his tracksuit and run onto Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening, the Lynaghs will become the 12th father and son duo to represent the Wallabies.
Moments after learning he’d earned a spot on Australia’s bench for this weekend’s Test with Wales, Lynagh texted his father, Michael.
The Wallabies’ most prolific point-scorer in history was asleep in the UK.
“I had to wait a few hours for him to reply. It was a really nice moment though,” Lynagh told this masthead. “He was really happy and proud.”
Lynagh snr, who played 72 Tests for the Wallabies between 1984 and 1995, is one of Australian rugby’s most revered figures.
Tom Lynagh is in line for a Wallabies debut this weekend against Wales. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
Wallabies players found out on Tuesday whether they’d be donning the boots this weekend. Unfortunately for Lynagh, it won’t be enough time for his father to make the trip to Australia.
“He’ll be watching from back home. He left it a bit too late,” Lynagh said. “He has some travel to do up there which is pretty important. He might look at coming over the next few weeks.”
Any words of advice?
“Not much yet. We’ll have a call tonight [Friday evening] and a final talk before the game,” Lynagh said.
Michael Lynagh (left) is hugged by Phil Kearns (taped head) as they embrace Australia’s captain Nick Farr-Jones after the 1991 World Cup final. Credit: Getty
“It’s special that he is who he is. I listen to all the words of advice he’s got and make use of it. It’s nice creating my own path and going my own way. It would be an honour to accomplish what he’s done but there is a long way to that.
“We talked about it all … moving out here, this is what I wanted to do. I’ve worked hard and been fortunate enough to get the opportunity to be able to represent Australia.
“As a kid, I always wanted to play for Australia. This gold jersey means everything to me. I’m not interested in playing for England.”
Being the son of one of Australia’s greatest rugby players, who won a World Cup in 1991, is not the easiest thing to navigate.
Wallabies young gun Tom Lynagh and Wallaroos debutant Nat Wright. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
The Lynagh surname holds plenty of weight but Tom, a No.10 who plays for the Queensland Reds, has impressed many astute judges, including Schmidt.
“He’s a cool customer, Tom. You talk to him and he just doesn’t get ruffled,” Schmidt said this week.
“I’ve tried to ruffle him, to be fair, and put him under a little bit of pressure. But he just doesn’t get ruffled. I love that … and I think the players around him love it.”
Lynagh is still behind Noah Lolesio in the Wallabies No.10 pecking order and is happy to wait for a maiden start.
In the latter stages of Saturday’s match, if things go to plan, Lynagh is likely to feature in a Reds heavy back line featuring Tate McDermott (halfback), Hunter Paisami (No.12), Josh Flook (No.13) and Filipo Daugunu (wing). The sense of familiarity will help.
“Joe hasn’t said much about it ... but I’ve read into that a bit,” Lynagh said. “It’s a pretty familiar setting, which is a nice way to ease into it. Hopefully, we all get on.”
It will be a day of debutants for Australian rugby. Lynagh, Jeremy Williams, Flook, Isaac Kailea, Angus Blyth, Charlie Cale and Dylan Pietsch are all in line to make their debuts.
For the Wallaroos, who take on Fiji beforehand at 4.45pm, Natalie Wright, Biola Dawa, Allana Sikimeti and Lydia Kavoa will all represent their country in XVs for the first time.
“I’m so excited to show what I’ve got,” said Wright, Australia’s reserve halfback. “Mum and Dad are coming down to watch the double-header. It’s funny … we had to cancel my flight because I was initially coming down [from Queensland] with them thinking I wasn’t playing.”
As Lynagh and Wright posed for photographs on Friday morning in Coogee, a rainbow appeared.
Australian rugby has suffered some dark days of late. Everyone in the game is trying to move past last year’s World Cup disaster and the fallout that followed.
Perhaps this was a small sign that better things are on the horizon.
Watch every July International Test Rugby match ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport with All Blacks v England (Saturday 4:00pm AEST), Wallaroos v Fijiana (Saturday 4:30pm AEST), Japan v Maori All Blacks (Saturday 6:50pm AEST), Wallabies v Wales (Saturday 7:00pm AEST), South Africa v Ireland (Sunday 12:00am AEST) and Argentina v France (Sunday 4:50am AEST).