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'Entirely different to what the referees asked for': All Blacks assistant on South African TV director's influence
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One area of Tom Lynagh's game that left him a 'bit disappointed'
reporting from Sydney
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Tom Lynagh admits his goalkicking has been the one area of his game that has left him “a bit disappointed” during his run in the Wallabies No.10 jersey.
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Clearly enjoying his promotion to the starting side in a true baptism of fire against rugby’s most famous touring side, the 22-year-old is eyeing one last crack at the British and Irish Lions to right some wrongs and help the Wallabies finish the series in style.
The young flyhalf battled gamely in Brisbane and helped Australia to a big first-half lead in Melbourne, only to make errors that let the Lions back in.
The 29-26 defeat to a last-minute Hugo Keenan try stung, and Lynagh is desperate for a shot at redemption in Saturday’s Sydney decider.
“Look, I think I’ve done all right,” Lynagh said. “I’m a bit disappointed in my goalkicking so far. I feel like that’s let myself and the team down a bit.
“But in terms of the rest of it, it’s been good. Just playing part of the system and just trying to do my role for the team and not overplay my hand.
“You get a lot more time on the field so you can dictate the game a lot more,” he explained. “When you come off the bench, you’ve got to understand what role you’ve got to play and how the game is at that point.
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“But the jersey’s only yours for the week if you’re selected. You’ve just got to go out there and do your job and do your role and put a performance in.”
Lynagh also reflected on the challenge of taking on the role without prior Test experience before this year’s Lions series.
“Yeah, having experience before the Lions series would have been great but I didn’t get the opportunity to do so,” he said. “I guess we’ll never find out but, like I said, take it one week at a time.
“It’s been good. Being selected as 10 just tells you everything you need to know, really – that he’s [Joe Schmidt] got trust and belief in you.
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“So that’s all I’ve taken from it, really. He’s always had that confidence in me ever since I joined the camp for the first time last year.
“It’s been really good and he’s been really positive around everything.”
