Son of Wallabies legend picked for England as Jones prepares to call time

He was born in Italy, is the son of one of Australia’s greatest players, and is now set to play on the international stage for England.

Louis Lynagh was one of eight uncapped players called up to an enlarged training squad on Tuesday ahead of the team’s November Test matches against Tonga, Australia and South Africa as Eddie Jones begins what he called the “last chapter” of his time as England coach.

The 20-year-old Lynagh is the son of World Cup-winning five-eighth Michael, who won the game’s biggest prize at Twickenham in 1991 and has been living in England since 1996.

Louis Lynagh has come through the English rugby system to play for Harlequins, for whom he scored two tries in the Premiership final against Exeter in June to help his club become English champions.

He also impressed his countryman Jones by scoring two tries for Harlequins in their opening game of the current season last weekend.

“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!’

Eddie Jones is set to call time on his time as England coach after delivering the biggest selection shake-up of his six years in charge.Credit:Getty

“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.”

Louis Lynagh, who is also eligible to play for Italy though his mother, will be part of a three-day, 45-man training camp that gathers in southwest London from Sunday.

Five international veterans have been omitted, in Billy and Mako Vunipola, George Ford, Jamie George and Elliot Daly.

While Daly’s absence is injury-related, the others don’t appear to be. Like Daly, Mako Vunipola and George were involved in the recent British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa yet cannot win places in an England squad.

Louis Lynagh scores for Harlequins during the English Premiership final in June at Twickenham.Credit:PA

It could represent the biggest changing of the guard of Jones’ reign, which began after the 2015 Rugby World Cup and looks set to end after the game’s showpiece tournament in two years.

“It is the last chapter for me, the last two years,” he said in quotes reported by the London Telegraph. “I have never been so excited in my life. And I think the squad we’ve assembled is just the start.

“Almost after the Lions tour you draw bit of a line in the sand, because then you’re in the last two years before the World Cup and everything you do counts. We’ve got five campaigns before the World Cup, so in every campaign you want to get a little bit better and get to the World Cup ready to win.”

Wallabies’ 2021 spring tour schedule (all times AEST)

• Japan v Wallabies at Oita Stadium, October 23, 3.45pm
• Scotland v Wallabies at Murrayfield, November 8, 1.15am
• England v Wallabies at Twickenham, November 14, 4.30am
• Wales v Wallabies at Principality Stadium, November 21, 5.30am

Jones told the BBC that the omitted players needed to figure out if they want to be involved through to the 2023 World Cup.

“It is not the end of the road,” Jones said.

“It is an opportunity for them to refresh, re-energise and refocus. We will see how they go.”

Nine of the 16 new caps awarded against the United States and Canada over the summer, while many England players were in South Africa with the Lions, were called up.

“This is an exciting squad made up of experienced players and young guys who did well in the summer and have earned their place again,” Jones said.

“We have five campaigns now until the 2023 World Cup so each one counts, and this is a chance for this 45 to impress the new coaching staff.”

AP

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