British & Irish Lions series 2025: Wallabies' Tom Lynagh poised to make history

Sydney Morning Herald

08-05-2025

Michael Lynagh kicking against the British and Irish Lions in the third Test in 1989. Credit: Jones/Fairfax Media
Lynagh debuted for the Wallabies last year and played in three Tests, but didn't make the spring tour after struggling with injuries. The blond No.10 played for Australia A instead, but this year Lynagh has made a compelling case for selection with excellent form for the Reds.
Some pundits have Lynagh neck-and-neck with incumbent Wallabies No.10 Noah Lolesio to start against the Lions in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. Ben Donaldson sits behind them, with Tane Edmed – the man Joe Schmidt preferred for the spring tour – having fallen behind after being used from the bench for NSW.
If Tom plays in the July series, the Lynaghs will become the first father-son duo to play for the Wallabies against the Lions, after Michael played in all three Tests of the 1989 series.
The only other family lineage to play for the Wallabies against the Lions is Tom Lawton snr (1930) and his grandson Tom Lawton, in 1989.
For his part, Tom Lynagh is still not diverting much attention beyond playing well for Queensland. But even doing that will keep boosting his chances, with the Reds' last four games including derby clashes with Edmed and NSW, and Lolesio's Brumbies.
Lynagh is likely to go head-to-head with Edmed on Friday in Sydney, who is set for a recall to the NSW No.10 jersey after a season mostly spent stuck behind Lawson Creighton. NSW coach Dan McKellar is set to make changes after last weekend's heavy defeat to the Brumbies, with Dave Porecki and Charlie Gamble also slated to return from injury.
Tom Lynagh sits fourth in Super Rugby for most points, with 78. Credit: Getty Images
With four rounds left, the Tahs have to win to keep their fading finals hopes alive, and fourth-ranked Queensland need to prevail in Sydney to make sure they don't get overtaken late.
The Reds are also coming off a last-minute loss to Fiji in Suva.
'We're getting to the pointy end of the season now, so every game from here on in obviously means a lot in terms of where you ultimately finish up,' Lynagh said.
'Their season's on the line too, so obviously they haven't lost at home yet this year, so it's going to be a big game. You can't switch off, and you've just got to be ruthless in these types of games.'
Lynagh said he had benefited from consistent time in the driver's seat this season, having started in seven of nine games.
His confidence and maturity in managing games for the Reds, particularly with the boot, have been impressive, and so too Lynagh's toughness. Multiple sides have targeted him physically, and occasionally with foul play. But Lynagh has stood up to it.
'Obviously, if you start, you play more minutes and get more experience,' he said. 'That's the only way I've found I've developed. Just by actually playing minutes and having different scenarios.
Loading
'You learn from experiences and losses. If you don't experience those, you're not going to learn as quickly.
'I feel like I'm in a much better place than I was this time last year. I've still got a lot to improve on. But I'm happy with how things are going at the moment.'
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match live and on demand.