Tom Lynagh is set to mirror his famous father Michael and take on the British and Irish Lions

His father Michael played for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions in 1989, and now Tom Lynagh looks set to do the same at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Australia’s clash with the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane on Saturday night looms as the ideal occasion for Tom Lynagh to forge his own Wallabies identity rather than just be known as “Michael’s son”.
Lynagh, 22, is on track to win a three-way battle for the flyhalf spot in Australia’s starting 15 with his former Queensland Reds teammate James O’Connor and Western Force’s Ben Donaldson.

Should Lynagh get the nod for the Suncorp Stadium battle, Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott has no doubt his Reds’ halves partner will wear the gold No.10 jersey with aplomb, just as his father Michael did in 72 Tests for Australia, including three against the Lions in 1989.

“There are expectations that come with that (flyhalf) role and you’ve got to make sure that he’s owning that space, and that’s what he’s done (for Queensland),” McDermott said.

“I know everyone speaks to their dad, and he (Michael) would have a wealth of experience for him (Tom), but I’d imagine in his position he doesn’t want to just be Michael’s son.

“He wants to be something else, and that’s what rugby’s all about.”

Born in Italy and having lived for several years in England, Tom Lynagh moved to Brisbane in 2021 to join the Queensland Reds.

Tom Lynagh is a locked in a selection battle for the Wallabies No.10 jersey. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Quiet at first, Lynagh has found his voice in the past couple of years, establishing himself as the Reds’ first-choice flyhalf.

“When he first arrived he didn't say anything,” McDermott said.

“He’d come straight out of boarding school in England over a Covid stage, and he transitioned straight into a Covid environment, which is what we had at the Reds, so he was a really shy guy.

“Obviously everyone knew his old man, and everyone loved having him part of the group, but he just wanted to learn.

“He got thrown in at the deep end a little bit, but 10s have got to be the generals in the modern game. They’ve got to lead the side around, and that’s the biggest thing he’s done in the past 12 months.

“From his experiences last year, coming off the bench for the Wallabies, being in (national coach) Joe Schmidt’s environment, and then (Reds coach) Les (Kiss) just giving him the keys to the kingdom this year and letting him run the show, I’ve been really proud of him.

“He’s incredibly young. He’s still got a hell of a long way to go in terms of his journey and his development, but I’m really excited to see how he goes on Saturday knowing the type of bloke he is.

“His family would be really proud of the journey he has been on. He’s a guy that comes with a lot of expectation having the last name Lynagh, and the way he’s gone about his work has been brilliant.

“We need to support him but it’s not just him or whoever’s in that position, that’s really important for us to do that.”

Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott is ‘proud’ of Tom Lynagh. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

McDermott is facing his own selection battle with fellow halfbacks Jake Gordon and Nic White.

Gordon is fit again after miss the Wallabies’ 21-18 last-start win over Fiji in Newcastle on July 6, with McDermott having started in the victory and White having come off the bench.

“It was a step in the right direction,” McDermott said in reflecting on the three-point win.

“It was nowhere near perfect, and there are quite a few areas we need to sure up, but we got the result, We haven’t done a hell of a lot of dwelling on it.”

Originally published as Tom Lynagh is set to mirror his famous father Michael and take on the British and Irish Lions