Louis Lynagh sounds Six Nations warning to rivals as ‘huge turning point’ against Wallabies gives Italy star confidence
Louis Lynagh is looking to kick on with Italy this Six Nations.
When Louis Lynagh scored the try that helped Italy beat Australia in November it did more than make headlines across the rugby world. It made the Azzurri believe.
The son of Wallabies legend Michael touching down against the Green and Gold was a great story, particularly with dad in the stands in Udine alongside his Italian wife Isabella.
More than that, it convinced Gonzalo Quesada’s squad – and sent a warning to rival teams – that Italy should be taken more seriously in this Six Nations Championship.
Turning point
“That Australia game, I think, was a huge turning point for us,” says Lynagh jnr, ahead of Saturday’s opener against Scotland in Rome. “We showed we could not only compete with one of the best teams in the world, but beat them.
“We had a game plan and stuck to it. We took the lead, they came back. We went ahead again and showed a killer instinct which Italy teams in the past have probably lacked.
“Previously, Italy would start strong and tail off in the second half. The attitude in the squad now is ‘we aren’t here just to compete, to make a game of it, we’re here to win. We belong’.
“I feel this can be a tournament in which we take a big step in that direction.”
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Italy have finished with the Wooden Spoon in 18 of the 26 championships since Five Nations became Six. They have lost 112 of their 130 matches, a loss percentage of 86.15.
Factor in that Ange Capuozzo, Sebastian Negri, Ross Vintcent and Tommaso Allan are unavailable due to injury and you might not be rushing out to bet your house on a side that must travel to Dublin and Paris.
But a few minutes in the company of Lynagh reveals a steely determination to rewrite the narrative surrounding Italy, starting against the Scots at Stadio Olimpico, where Gregor Townsend’s men lost on their last visit.
Taken seriously
“The mindset has shifted,” he says. “It’s now very much, ‘we’re not going to be the whipping boys anymore. We are here to get into the top-three, top-two, win games. Not just be that team that has one win at best in them’.
“Teams are taking us seriously, which is testament to how hard we’ve worked to earn respect. I’m proud of the improvement that’s been made since Gonzalo came in.
“For us it’s not about targeting certain games as ones we think we can win. We’re going in with the mentality that every week is a new week. Each team is a new team with weaknesses we can target.”
Lynagh knows it is vital Italy build on the Australia win, and the way they fronted up against South Africa in Turin a week later. He feels neutrals want to see it as much as the Italian squad does.
“People want competition,” he adds. “They don’t want to know South Africa and New Zealand are going to be in another final. They want to know six, perhaps eight, different teams have a real chance.”
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So much of his upbeat mood hails from that autumn evening at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine where the former Harlequins star gave his family a memory to last a lifetime.
“It was a very emotional emotional day,” he recalls. “My whole family was in the stands. All week I had experienced this weird emotion; not knowing how I was going to feel.
“I was about to play against friends of my brothers and people I know really well. I’ve grown up half Australian. I’ve grown up supporting Australia as a nation.
“As soon as we kicked off it became another game of rugby. Australia might not have been at their strongest; coming towards the end of their season they might have been a bit tired.
“But it was still Australia, a nation which has won two World Cups, one of the best rugby nations in history. To win the way we did was no small feat for Italian rugby.”
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And how did dad react? “He was very happy,” Lynagh jnr insists. “I think he’s more of a fan of his sons than of Italy or Australia or whatever else. If we’re doing well he’s happy.”
The 25-year old has certainly enjoyed an impressive campaign for club and country since recovering from knee ligament surgery which sidelined him for much of last season.
Competitive family
His competitive juices were further stoked by seeing brother Tom selected to start at fly-half for Australia against the British and Irish Lions.
“We’re an intensely competitive family in everything we do,” he explains. “I’ve always wanted to be the best I possibly can be – the best in the family, the best in the world.
“It’s the same way Tom and (youngest brother) Nic are programmed. God, you should see us compete at golf. We push each other to improve at everything we do.”
Lynagh continues: “Since coming back from surgery I’ve felt a lot better about myself mentally and physically. I’m more settled living in Italy and I like to think that’s showing in my rugby.
“It’s not all about doing the hard work just to see outcomes. You do it regardless. But it’s nice when you see that you have become a better player. I now feel I can impact the game a lot more.”