Tom Lynagh to start at flyhalf for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Tom Lynagh will start at flyhalf for Australia against the Lions in the series-opening test on Saturday, 36 years after his famous father wore the Wallabies No. 10 jersey against the combined British and Irish rugby team.

Both squads were announced within a couple of hours on Thursday, with the Lions unveiling a squad that doesn’t contain a Welsh player for the first time in tests against either Australia, New Zealand or South Africa since 1896.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was forced into some significant changes by injuries to regular backrower Rob Valetini, lock Will Skelton and flyhalf Noah Lolesio.

Andy Farrell’s Lions lineup is bigger, more experienced and close to full strength, similar to the squad that beat the Brumbies in Canberra last week.

England lock Maro Itoje is captain of the 23-man squad that contains eight Irish players in the starting lineup and three on the bench. Welsh backrower Jac Morgan missed out on a loose forward combation comprising No. 8 Jack Conan and flankers Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne, meaning this Lions squad will have only players only from Ireland, England and Scotland.

Morgan got “as close as you could imagine,” to selection, Farrell said. “You’re actually gutted for players like that.”

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Flyhalf Finn Russell will spearhead a backline with his Scotland teammates Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu combining in the centers.

The Lions are 5-0 ahead of the three-test series since a 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warmup in Dublin. They had wins over all of Australia’s Super Rugby franchises — the Western Force,Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies — before Saturday’s 48-0 demolition of an AUNZ invitational XV in Adelaide.

Wallabies reshuffle

Nick Champion de Crespigny will make his debut on the blindside flank to replace Valetini, bringing a different style of game and allowing Wallabies skipper to take up more of the ball-carrying responsibility. Hooker Matt Faessler also returns to the starting XV.

The 22-year-old Lynagh will start a test for the first time after coming off the bench three times previously. He’ll form a new halves combination with Jake Gordon in the biggest moment of his fledgling international career.

“I’m really excited for Tom. He’s got a quiet confidence about him, that gives us a quiet confidence as well,” Schmidt said. “He’s given us the confidence that he’s going to run the game for us. He’s incredibly brave — to a fault.”

The Lions won the series 2-1 on their last tour to Australia in 2013, avenging a 2-1 series loss to the Wallabies in 2001.

Michael Lynagh was part of the Australian team that lost the 1989 series 2-1 to the Lions, and he went on to help guide the Wallabies to a 1991 World Cup triumph.

His son was born in Italy, went to school in England and moved in 2021 to Australia, where he has flourished at the Queensland Reds and earned three test caps.

Tom Lynagh will be the first Wallaby to follow in his father’s footsteps in playing against the Lions.

“Probably not ideal to be starting your first test match for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions,” Schmidt said, but “if not now, when?”

Veteran prop James Slipper will get another chance at the Lions after being included in a reshuffled pack, bringing his experience of the 2013 series to the current crop of Wallabies.

Flanker Fraser McReight was confident the backrow would lose nothing in terms of physicality with Champion de Crespigny replacing for Valetini.

“He loves to whack. He loves the physical nature of the game,” McReight said of his new backrow partner. “Once he crosses that white line, he’s a beast.”

Lions on the prowl

“It’s a great occasion and a proud moment for Maro Itoje, who will captain the test side, but also for those players who get the opportunity to represent the group on Saturday,” Farrell said. “We have seen a flood of Lions supporters on the streets of Brisbane this week and we are looking forward to seeing a Sea of Red in the stands.”

The opening game in the 2001 series in Brisbane felt more like a home game for the Lions, with the Gabba stadium filled with fans wearing red. It propelled the Lions to a win over the 1999 World Cup champions. But the Australians rallied and win the Melbourne and Sydney tests to clinch the series.

Twelve years ago, on the last tour, the Lions again won in Brisbane — 23-21 — when Wallabies’ goalkicker Kurtley Beale slipped and missed a last-minute penalty attempt. The Wallabies won the second test in Melbourne before the Lions dominated in Sydney to clinch the series.

The second test is set for July 26 in Melbourne, followed by Sydney on Aug. 2.

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Squads:

Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Allan Ala’alatoa, Matt Faessler, James Slipper. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.

British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Tommy Freeman (England), Huw Jones (Scotland), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), James Lowe (Ireland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Jack Conan (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Joe McCarthy (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England). Reserves: Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Will Stuart (England), Ollie Chessum (England), Ben Earl (England), Alex Mitchell (England), Marcus Smith (England), Bundee Aki (Ireland).

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby