LYNAGH GETS THE NOD FOR ENGLAND
THE son of Wallabies legend Michael Lynagh was among eight uncapped players named by England coach Eddie Jones for his squad to face Australia, Tonga and South Africa in November.
Harlequins winger Louis Lynagh is also eligible for Australia and Italy, where he was born during his father’s time playing with Treviso.
“Louis has had a string of solid performances now,” Jones said of the 20-year-old. “He’s got good acceleration, good power and he finds the line. He’s got to find the ball a bit more and we’ve chatted about that.
“He’s got youth and that enthusiasm to improve. Based on his performances for Harlequins, he deserves to be looked at, so we will look at him.”
Michael Lynagh was a previous Australia Test captain who played 72 times for the Wallabies and was vice-captain of the 1991 World Cup-winning squad.
His youngest son Tom is signed by the Queensland Reds, while Louis has progressed through the ranks in the UK after joining Harlequins in 2019.
“I rang him up yesterday and said: ‘Mate, you don’t sound like an Australian!’ ” Jones said, laughing. “He said: ‘I know, I have to work on my Australian accent a bit!’
“I played against his father – his father was obviously a brilliant player – and he has got some of those characteristics.
He has that strength around his hips to drive through tacklers. It’s a good opportunity for him.”
Jones warned a quartet of senior internationals dropped from his first squad of the autumn to rediscover their best form or risk missing out on the 2023 World Cup.
Jones has omitted Billy and Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and George Ford from a 45man training group that will gather on Sunday for a brief camp ahead of Tests against Tonga, Australia and South Africa in November.
It is the most radical removal of seasoned veterans of the Jones era, with Ford, an occasional captain during the Australian’s six years in charge, emerging as the biggest casualty.
Elliot Daly is also missing after an operation to repair a fractured shin.
Other seasoned d campaigners such as Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, rell, Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, Kyle Sinckler, r, Joe Marler, Jonny May and Anthony Watson have survived the culling.
Two years out from the World Cup, Jones said he was looking to the future after a disappointing year.
England finished second last in the Six Nations, losing to Scotland, Wales and Ireland.