International tug-of-war over Lynagh isn't over yet

The ball is in Eddie Jones’ court in the race for Louis Lynagh, but Wallabies coach Dave Rennie won’t concede the son of Australian great Michael Lynagh is lost to this country yet.

Italian-born Louis, 20, who’s lived in England since he was five, has been named in Jones’ extended 45-man England squad ahead of three Tests that include a clash with the Wallabies next month.

Younger brother Tom has moved to Brisbane on a contract with the Queensland Reds and declared his dream is to wear Wallaby gold like his father and fellow five-eighth.

A Clockwork Orange, Islander remedies and Jonny Hill | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 4

A Clockwork Orange, Islander remedies and Jonny Hill | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 4

A fullback or winger, Louis opted to stay in England with Harlequins and former Wallabies coach Jones made the first move in a sequence that could see the brothers one day clash at Test level.

But Rennie said Australia’s director of rugby Scott Johnson had spoken to Michael about his son’s allegiance and there remained an avenue for Louis to instead play for the Wallabies.

“Obviously Eddie’s well aware of his lineage and (the need to) catch him quickly,” Rennie said on Friday.

“But we’ll see how things go there, whether they use him or not over the next period and whether there’s any interest in him to come back to Australia.

“Not until he’s capped (is he England’s).”

Jones will have his first opportunity to blood Lynagh against Tonga on November 6, before they face Australia and then South Africa in consecutive weeks all at London’s Twickenham Stadium.