Rugby union: ‘Cynical' Tom Lynagh act rocks ‘bang average' Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions
Wallabies youngster Tom Lynagh was crunched mid-air in a tackle labelled 'cynical' by many during the British and Irish Lions' 27-19 victory at Suncorp Stadium.
In the first match between these teams in 12 years, the Lions burst out of the blocks and controlled the majority of the 80 minutes in an ominous start to the three-Test series.
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The Aussies kept competing and narrowed the gap with tries in the 67th and 78th minutes, but it was too little too late and the outcome was never in doubt.
A moment late in the first half proved a huge talking point when 22-year-old flyhalf Lynagh, the son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, was taken out by Tom Curry after leaping for a high ball right on Australia's 22.
Watch the Lynagh tackle in the video player above
Tom Curry gives away a penalty for this mid-air tackle on Tom Lynagh. (Photo by)
Considering how rarely the Lions are in this part of the world, it was a banner evening in front of a packed house in Brisbane for a sport that has struggled in Australia for years.
The tourists then duly burst out of the blocks, slotting a penalty goal inside two minutes when NRL convert Joseph Suaalii was pinged for not releasing.
Eight minutes later it looked like a mauling might be on the cards when Finn Russell's superb pass found Sione Tuipulotu, who crossed to give the Lions a sensational start.
They had another try disallowed in the 19th minute before the Aussies struck back out of nowhere in the 28th minute.
Jake Gordon's box kick led to an aerial contest in Lions territory and Max Jorgensen won the battle for the ball before powering over the line for an Australian try.
Sione Tuipulotu celebrates an early try for the Lions. (Photo by)
'Jorgensen on the hunt, that's a good competition. Jorgensen! Jorgensen freakish and the try for Australia,' Sean Maloney said on Stan Sport.
Wallabies great Tim Horan added: 'Unbelievable from Max Jorgensen. That's got the Wallabies fans up at Suncorp Stadium.
'They've tried that box kick a few times now and it's been a bit too deep.
'On this occasion, Gordon gets enough height on it and Max Jorgensen's only got eyes for the ball.
'He goes up, rips it away, what a try for the Wallabies.'
Fellow commentator Morgan Turinui noted it was Australia's first meaningful attack of the game.
Max Jorgensen hit back for the Wallabies. (Photo by)
'That's why he's there Max Jorgensen, he is an elite athlete,' he said.
'He gets up and rips it away, the Wallabies, it's their first time in possession in the Lions' 22 and they take a try out of it.'
Ten minutes later, the moment arrived that had people on both sides of the globe talking.
A box kick from the Lions was secured in the air by Lynagh, who was playing his fourth Test and his first run-on start, only for Curry to crunch him before his feet had landed back on the turf.
'Lynagh, great take – oh caught high. Caught in the air,' Maloney said.
'That's so brave from Tom Lynagh,' Horan continued. 'Had to put his body on the line, he gets collected in the air from Tom Curry.
'Looks like it's penalty only.'
A fired up Turinui jumped in with: 'Yeah only because he's lucky enough not to land on his head.
'That's cynical. It's a chance to have a crack at a young No. 10 and the Lions have taken it.
'If you want to know, Wallabies forward pack, what the Lions want to do to your No. 10, there it is.'
It immediately had the sports world talking.
Sports broadcaster Motshidisi E. Mohono tweeted: 'That's so silly from Curry.'
Rugby Bits was clearly relishing the moment, replying: 'Can't waste opportunities like that to smash a 10.
'They 100% have a plan to target Lynagh anyway so playing 39 minutes of a Test match and then that opportunity is there, only one outcome haha.'
Hilarious.
A small group of Aussie fans find themselves surrounded by Lions fans. (Photo by)
X account @OzDeniser offered: 'Refereeing has been atrocious. Lynagh taken out in the air: naughty boy. Knock on by Lions at crucial point: nothing to see here.'
Chalyn Rugby tweeted: 'That tackle by Tom Curry on Tom Lynagh is late, cynical and should be Yellow Carded right away.'
John Duffield added: 'Tom Curry left his shoulder in the boy Lynagh there. Should have been a yellow. Dangerous.'
At halftime, Aussie flanker Fraser McReight was fired up.
'It was pretty chaotic out there and pretty physical. Obviously it's just a battle out there,' he told Stan Sport.
Curry scores for the Lions as his teammates erupt. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)
'You know great kicking, we've just got to stay in it discipline-wise.
'The boys are doing great, look at (Lynagh), look at Jergo out there. So f**k 'em.'
Nothing like live sport to get the curses flowing.
It would be fair to say the expectations of the Wallabies were low coming into this game against a powerful side made up of the best England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales can muster.
Calum McClurkin, a sub-editor at the Scottish Daily Mail, made his feelings clear early in the game.
Carlo Tizzano scores for the Wallabies. (Photo by)
'I said after the Argentina defeat that could be the toughest game the Lions will have all summer. Not seen much from the Aussies to suggest otherwise. Bang average and as long as the Lions don't force things too much … too many powerful ball carriers for Australia to contain.
'The Wallabies just look so limited. A shadow of what they were even 10 years ago.'
Australia has been stuck in a low ebb in the 15-man game for years.
If nothing else, the Aussies know the level they need to reach if they're any chance of replicating the famous Wallabies side that beat the Lions 2-1 a long 24 years ago.
Originally published as 'Cynical' Tom Lynagh act rocks 'bang average' Wallabies against the Lions
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