Rookie Wallaby playmaker hungry to help avoid series whitewash
SPOTLIGHT: Relishing his new starting role, Tom Lynagh is hoping for one last crack at the British and Irish Lions to try to right some wrongs and help the Wallabies finish the showpiece series in style.
After being thrown to the Lions as a Test rookie following a serious injury to Noah Lolesio, Lynagh performed indifferently in Australia’s first two defeats to the tourists.
The flyhalf put his lightly-framed body on the line and defended bravely in the series-opening 19-27 loss in Brisbane before helping the Wallabies to a big first-half lead in Melbourne last Saturday, only to commit errors that allowed the Lions back into the contest.
Australia succumbing to a 26-29 loss to a controversial last-minute try stung Lynagh, but the son of a gun wants the chance to atone in game three in Sydney on Saturday night.
“[I want] more time in that seat,” the 22-year-old said on Tuesday.
“You get a lot more time on the field, so you can dictate the game a lot more.
“When you come off the bench, you’ve got to understand what role you’ve got to play and how the game is at that point.
“But the jersey’s only yours for the week if you’re selected. You’ve just got to go out there and do your job and do your role and put a performance in.
“Look, I think I’ve done all right. I’m a bit disappointed in my goalkicking so far.
“I feel like that’s let myself and the team down a bit.
“But in terms of the rest of it, it’s been good. Just playing part of the system and just trying to do my role for the team and not overplay my hand.”
The article continues below…
🗣️ Turbo on what a win this week would mean
🆚 The British & Irish Lions
🗓️ Saturday 2 August | 7:45pm AEST
🏟️ Accor Stadium, Sydney
🎫 https://t.co/FkBweiDLXn#Wallabies #LionsTour2025 pic.twitter.com/OVyEAjF0VF— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 29, 2025
With the No.10 role a real trouble spot for the Wallabies, coach Joe Schmidt said pre-series he had hoped to blood Lynagh on several occasions last year.
But an injury-ravaged season cruelled those plans before Lynagh missed the Wallabies’ tour of the UK last November.
“Yeah, having experience before the Lions series would have been great, but I didn’t get the opportunity to do so,” he said, adding that he enjoys a great relationship with Schmidt.
“I guess we’ll never find out, but like I said, take it one week at a time.
“It’s been good. Being selected as No.10 just tells you everything you need to know, really – that he’s got trust and belief in you.
“So that’s all I’ve taken from it. He’s always had that confidence in me ever since I joined the camp for the first time last year.
“It’s been really good and he’s been positive around everything.”
Despite the Wallabies coming off second best, Lynagh has loved having his legendary, London-based, 1991 World Cup-winning father, Michael, back home in Australia to watch the series.
“My family back at home and in London, they’re all there, they’re all on holiday,” he said.
“So they’re enjoying their time off and watching the games. We’ve shared lots of messages over the last couple of weeks, and they’ve been very supportive from back over there.
“We put in a good performance last week, and hopefully we can try and do the same and get the result [on Saturday].
“We led for pretty much 79 minutes in the last game and lost it in the 80th. That’s footy for you.
“But we can take plenty of confidence from that game last week, and even the second half in the first Test.”
History made 🦁#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/sZvIb7jyTn
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025
