The Japanese link behind Wallabies star's sure hands in win over Boks
SPOTLIGHT: Ryan Lonergan has rediscovered his love for goalkicking and thanks a chance encounter with a Japanese scrumhalf for his sure hands since making the Wallabies’ No.9 jersey his own.
The Brumbies scrumhalf played nine domestic seasons before earning his Test debut, replacing an injured Tate McDermott in the first half of a nine-point loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park last year.
Jake Gordon’s long-term injury further opened the door and, now with McDermott fit again, 13-Test Lonergan has established himself as the preferred starting option ahead of an Eden Park return on Saturday.
After going at 90 percent off the tee from round eight onwards for the Brumbies, he’s kicked 30 of 34 attempts for the Wallabies this season.
More recently, he was a star performer in the Wallabies 42-38 win over the Springboks in Perth.
And his distribution and in-game kicking, either clearing from danger or to advantage for his outside backs, have taken some pressure off whoever has worn the No.10.
Lonergan at least partly credits that form to his game-day habit of taping all 10 fingers with a product he “loads up on” during every visit to Japan.
“It’s a good way to be able to pass consistently in the game … when these boys sweat all over it,” he explained.
“It doesn’t make a huge difference in terms of feel, just a bit more grip.”
He had unsuccessfully experimented with regulation strapping tape before playing alongside Japanese No.9 Kaito Shigeno for the Barbarians in 2023.
“He gave me a box and said ‘try it’, so I did; it was good, and I’ve used it ever since,” Lonergan, who doesn’t tape his hands for training, said.
The sharpshooter converted seven-of-eight shots at goal to prove the difference in the Wallabies’ four-point defeat of South Africa.
“At the start of the Super season I hadn’t kicked for a while,” he said of taking over duties from Noah Lolesio at the Brumbies.
“It was sort of another thing I had to think about. But I loved it when I was young and then started to enjoy it a bit more.
“You ride that confidence through, and it’s been working for me.”
Lonergan will go head-to-head with All Blacks No.9 Cam Roigard, who scored twice in their Eden Park win last year that extended the Wallabies’ drought at the venue to 24 games since 1986.
“Great player; been class for them, a great attacking threat and a great left foot,” Lonergan said.
“He’s a threat around the ruck and set-piece time around the scrum. We’ll do our best to shut him down.”
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