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Why Lions can expect a little more 'swagger' from Wallabies in Melbourne
By AAP
Fullback Tom Wright says there’s been a “passing of the torch” as he adjusts to playing alongside rookie flyhalf Tom Lynagh, who is leading the Wallabies into battle against the British and Irish Lions.
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Wright has spent much of his Test career alongside Noah Lolesio in the No.10 jersey, while the pair have also played five years of Super Rugby Pacific together at the ACT Brumbies.
Lolesio was ruled out of the Lions series, having undergone neck surgery after an injury during the Test against Fiji, with Lynagh making his starting debut in the opening loss to the Lions in Brisbane.
Ahead of the must-win match at the MCG on Saturday night, Wright said Queensland playmaker Lynagh had settled in and brought his own “swagger”.
“Tommy’s brought his own little swagger that he’s got at the Reds,” Wright said of Lynagh, whose father, Michael, was a Wallabies great.
“I’ve admired that about his game for a little while – he’s got like a slight sort of subtle confidence about himself.
“I think we’re going to see more and more of that ooze out of him the more comfortable he becomes in that starting 10 jersey.
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“Tommy has an incredible skill set that we’ve all got to back and continue to pour confidence into him because we believe in him and the skill set that he does have and the game plan that he’s sort of driving from within.”
Wright said he felt for his good friend Lolesio, who may have played his last Test for Australia after opting to move his career to Japan.
He said the 25-year-old had shown his class by spending time with Lynagh in the Wallabies camp and passing on his knowledge.
“Noah was trying to add his two cents worth around what he sees and feels and helping Tommy,” Wright said.
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“It was a cool sort of passing of the torch, at least for the short term at least, with his neck injury.
“We’ve got real belief in Tommy, though and what he can bring to this side for sure.”
Meanwhile, the Wallabies’ backline believes they will be more prepared for the aerial assault from Lions playmaker Finn Russell.
Wright hoped they could make more use of their time and space with the ball to launch a counterattack.
Young winger Max Jorgensen’s first-half try came when he plucked the ball from Lions fullback Hugo Keenan in an aerial contest.
“We know the aerial raid that’s coming again, ball on foot, and the way that we can nullify that, get numbers behind the ball again,” the 28-year-old said.
“We saw a couple of instances where we’re able to shift the ball away from that sort of aerial threat or crumbs and find a little bit of space … so if we’re good enough to take those opportunities again, that would be nice.”
