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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 team.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt announced his squad Thursday to take on the Lions and was forced into some lineup changes after the narrow win over Fiji.

The 22-year-old Lynagh will start his fourth test match in a new halves combination with Jake Gordon in the biggest moment of his short international career.

“With the short runway leading up to such a big test match, we know we must adapt fast and improve quickly from the performance we had against Fiji," Schmidt said. "We’re very much aware of the occasion and conscious of earning the support from the public through the effort they see on the field.”

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 World Cup triumph in 1991.

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.

There was a vacancy at No. 10 after Noah Lolesio was injured against Fiji.

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

Nick Champion de Crespigny will make his starting debut as blindside flanker and hooker Matt Faessler has won a spot in the XV in changes to the lineup.

Lions coach Andy Farrell was set to unveil his squad later Thursday in a downtown Brisbane hotel.

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 before Saturday’s 48-0 demolition of an AUNZ invitational XV comprising Australians and New Zealanders in Adelaide.

The Lions landed in Australia last month and have beaten Western Force in Perth, Queensland Reds in Brisbane, New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney and the Brumbies in Canberra.

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.

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

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