Australia team to face Lions contains son of icon who broke Irish hearts in infamous World Cup clash at Lansdowne Road
In one case there's even a name that will hark back to an infamously painful defeat at the 1991 World Cup!
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Michael Lynagh broke Irish hearts in Dublin on October 20 1991
Credit: Getty
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His son Tom will be making his first start for Australia in tomorrow's 11am Irish time clash
Credit: Sportsfile
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Andy Farrell hasn't included his fly-half son Owen in the matchday 23
Credit: PA
That's because one Tom Lynagh is starting
The 22-year-old is indeed the son of the legendary Michael. Like his 72-times capped old man, he plays fly-half.
The youngster only has three caps to his name and he's been fast-tracked into this spotlight match-up due to the unfortunate neck injury to first-choice 10 Noah Lolesio.
Michael is a legend of the game the world over on the back of his World Cup-winning heroics in 1991.
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But from a strictly Irish perspective, the first memory that jumps out when you mention his name and that tournament unfolded at the old Lansdowne Road.
Ireland was one of SIX host nations as the competition came to the northern hemisphere for the first time.
The others were the remainder of what we know as the Six Nations line-up in England, Wales, Scotland and France.
Ireland's customary quarter-final exit on that occasion was arguably the most painful of the lot.
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With home advantage against Australia they led 18-15 going into the dying moments only for Lynagh senior to finish off a slick move out wide where David Campese set him up to crash over the try line.
In the here and now, Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt has spoken glowingly of Queensland Reds star Tom Lynagh's 'quiet confidence' and pointed hopefully to the fact that he would at least be playing on his home ground at the Suncorp Stadium.
Andy Farrell wants end to social media 'nonsense' after son Owen's Lions call
The former Ireland head coach said: 'Probably not ideal to be starting your first Test match for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions.
'But you've got to start somewhere, and if not now, when? I am confident that he'll cope and I'm very confident that he'll learn from the occasion.
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'I'd like to think that we can still go out probably sharing Tom Lynagh's quiet confidence that we can put a game together that at least can keep the Lions pretty honest on the day.'
FAZZ START
Andy Farrell has urged his Irish-heavy Lions side to rise to the occasion, knowing they enter tomorrow's encounter as overwhelming favourites.
Farrell has picked eight of the players he knew from his day job and starts three more on the bench for the Brisbane clash. As expected,
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Rónan Kelleher,
A powerful starting team also includes England's Tom Curry on the flank, with
With bulldozing Australia forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton ruled out by calf injuries yesterday, the odds are even more in the tourists' favour but Farrell insisted: 'There's no overconfidence at all.
'There's a realisation of what it is and what it means and how privileged we are.
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"But that doesn't get in the way of how we prepare to make sure that we allow ourselves to be the best version of ourselves.'
WEAK WALES
Farrell saw no room for a Welshman in the best version of his team, with Curry preferred to the only remaining player from Wales in his squad, Jac Morgan.
It is the first time in nearly 130 years that there will be no Welsh representative on the pitch in a Lions Test.
Australia:
Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Matt Faessler, Alan Ala'alatoa; Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Nick Champion de Crespigny, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).
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Replacements:
Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Andrew Kellaway.
British and Irish Lions:
Hugo Keenan; Tommy Freeman, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, James Lowe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Ellis Genge, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, Joe McCarthy; Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements:
Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki.
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FIRST NATIONS & PASIFIKA XV: A Muirhead; F Daugunu (J Debreczeni, 10 - HIA), L Foketi, D Feliuai (J McLeod, 41 - HIA), T Reilly; K Beale – captain; K Thomas (H Goddard, 55); L Ieli (M Pearce, 54), B Paenga-Amosa (R Asiata, 45), T Tupou (M Doge, 45); D Swain, L Salakaia-Loto; S Uru (R Leota, 51), C Gamble, T Taii Tualima (M Vocevoce, 67). LIONS: B Kinghorn; D Graham (G Ringrose, 16), J Osborne, O Farrell – captain, D van der Merwe; F Smith (M Smith, 66, F Smith 72 - HIA), B White; P Schoeman (R Sutherland, 74), J George (E Ashman, 74), F Bealham (T Clarkson, 50); J Ryan (G Brown, 55), S Cummings; J Morgan (B Earl, 50), J van der Flier, H Pollock. Replacement not used: A Mitchell. Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia).
