There are fears for the sight of Michael Lynagh’s left eye after the former Wallaby skipper suffered a stroke in Brisbane early this week. He’s in a Brisbane hospital, showing all the same fighting qualities he showed as one of our greatest Wallabies.
The 48 year-old had flown from his London base to attend a reunion of former St Josephs College students at Gregory Terrace when he complained of dizziness.
Lynagh made his name at the College as a member of the first XV from 1979 to 1981, captaining the side in his final year.
The College won the GPS premiership in all three years and has produced Wallabies of the calibre of Lynagh, another former Wallaby skipper, Tony Shaw, Mark Chisholm, David Croft, Digby Ioane, and Ben Lucas.
The next year Lynagh was in the Queensland side until 1995, playing 100 games and accumulating 1166 points.
He broke into the Wallaby ranks in 1984, playing outside mercurial Mark Ella, and the combination was instrumental in claiming Australia’s only Grand Slam by beating England 19-3, Ireland 16-9, Wales 28-9, and Scotland 37-12.
Ella scored an unmatched try in every game, while Lynagh contributed 44 points, mainly through his accurate goal-kicking in a golden era of Australian rugby.
When Ella shocked the rugby world by retiring at only 25 after the tour and at the height of his stellar career, Lynagh donned the 10 jersey with distinction.
During his 72 Tests, he had Nick Farr-Jones as his half-back for most of his career, and George Gregan at the end of it.
But Lynagh was seen at his most effective best when co-Queenslanders Tim Horan and Jason Little filled the centre slots, with David Campese on the wing. A dominating quartet.
One of the most memorable Wallaby tries I’ve seen was the RWC quarter-final against Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 1991.
Campese had broken to the right in a typical slashing burst and when cornered he heard the trailing Lynagh’s call for the ball, and with an over-the-shoulder pass, Lynagh scored in the corner in the 77th minute to win 19-18.
Having dodged an Irish bullet, the Wallabies beat the All Blacks 16-6 in the semis, and went on to win the final 12-6 against England at Twickenham, no doubt spurred on by coach Bobby Dwyer’s frantic call to Lynagh, who was pottering around inside his own quarter : “Kick it to the f****ing shithouse”, right in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in the Royal Box.
True to form, the Queen didn’t show any reaction, but she obviously heard it.
Patrons on the far side of the ground heard Dwyer clearly. It was one of the highlights of an absorbing final.
And the RWC win was a highlight of Michael Lynagh’s career that included regaining the Bledisloe Cup in 1986, 1992, and 1994, before hanging up his international boots with a then world record 911 Test points after the unsuccessful 1995 RWC campaign in South Africa.
All those memories and a whole lot more are flooding back as sports-lovers around the nation join forces wishing a mighty bloke a speedy and full recovery.
John Barry
Guest
Best of luck Michael in your fight back to good health. We here in Ireland are shocked to hear the bad news. We remember you as a class player and a gentleman. Looking forward to seeing you back on Sky soon. Will be praying for your recovery.
nomis
Guest
I missed the 91 quarter against Ireland. I expected AUS too win easily though. When I woke up the next morning and heard the score. I remember thinking, 'Gee. Ireland got close'. I didn't realise how close it was! Noddy. What a champ!
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Speedy recovery, Noddy, from your fans from way back in the early 90s, my two daughters and I.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Recover well Noddy, wishing you every strength, every bit of good luck in this phase, no-one deserves these more than you.
Billo
Guest
Michal Lynagh has forged a fine career as a Sky TV rugby pundit in the UK. He's always smart, in every sense of the word, humorous and generous with his comments. He does Australia proud, as he did when he was a player. A lot of Aussies in London are deeply shocked by this news, and English rugby fans are equally affected by it. I'm sure that everyone who has ever seen him will be praying that he will come through this unscathed.
sheek
Guest
Frank, if it is okay with you, we might get The Roar to exchange our emails. let me know.....?
sheek
Guest
Frank, You & I are old fellows who think alike. We love guys like the Ellas, Campo, Bernie Larkham, Roffy & Snoz (Mike O'Connor) because of the excitement they brought to the game. No-one could read the play like Mark Ella, or set up his supports like him, but gee, there are no complaints from me that Michael Lynagh was the complete no.10, outstanding in almost everything he did. If we could say that Ella was the Bob Beamon of rugby (flew where no-one had flown before), then Lynagh was the Edwin Moses of rugby (the ultimate high-level technician).....!!!
Lorry
Guest
and he looks like my uncle! Get better Noddy!
dc
Guest
I grew up in NZ and loved watching Michael Lynagh. He is massively respected in NZ rugby. Never understood why he was under-rated in Aussie rugby history. At the top of the pantheon.....
tc
Guest
May God bless the Lynagh family from un zud
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Oh and he's a nice guy too. A fellow who uses words like 'golly' and 'gosh' and 'gee' way too much for a rugby player. Get better Noddy.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
It's less than 24 hours since I was watching the 1992 Bledisloe Cup on YouTube. Lynagh was just fantastic. It's interesting to note that Bob Dwyer once asked himself, in his first book, who the best Wallaby ever was (in his chapter on Campese). He noted Campo was the best for individual brilliance, Ella the best in terms of being constructive, Catchpole was there... interestingly he noted Russell Fairfax... and then he said Lynagh was the best in terms of being a complete player. He's one of my favourites, but so, so underrated in Australia. It's Ella or Larkham, the two running flyhalves. They don't mention Lynagh enough. Australia's been starved of a good kicking 10 for a while now that it makes me yearn for the days of Noddy. There's an art to what he did. A good example is the way he exposed Keiran Crowley during the World Cup. One of my rugby regrets was that I never saw Lynagh's performance against France in the 2nd test of 1993. Bob Dwyer once said it showed, as great as he was, that he had another gear. Ella highly regarded that performance too. I've made efforts to purchase that game somehow (by calling Fox Sports, for example), but I've had no luck. Anyway he's arguably one of Australia's five greatest players in my mind. People will disagree with that. It's just my opinion. I've got enough Wallaby tests from 1984-1995 on my shelf to say there haven't been many better. Might watch a game now...
Jiggles
Roar Guru
A great Wallaby, Queenslander and Terracian. Get well soon Noddy.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Get well soon champ. For those that can, please donate to st vincents stroke foundation. Money goes to much needed research into this ever increasing illness.
BennO
Guest
Fantastic stuff. I also remember some footage of a grand final at Ballymore from the early 80s between, well I guess Uni (Lynagh played for Uni didn't he?) and Wests perhaps. Anyway I remember Lynagh in full flight down the eastern touchline with Ballymore in full sun for what I presume was a try. I can't find the footage on youtube but from what I remember it was great to see.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Just a great bloke to talk to after the game, if you met him in the street he was just a good guy with no airs and graces. Anyone could talk to him no matter who you were he had time for you. Up and at them Noddy, you can beat this setback.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
Difficult to be motivated to discuss anything rugby-related given news like this. I've never met the man but he is one of the reasons I started watching rugby in the first place. Not just a good sportsman, but a good man - someone you could aspire to be.
Rugby Fan GC
Guest
Best of luck Noddy. All of your fans, young and old, are thinking of you. Here's to a speedy and full recovery.
stuff happens
Guest
Further to above you may like to be reminded of Michael's wonderful try against Wales in the 1984 grand slam. Still one of the best constructed tries you could wish to see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo6u6HVSbe8
stuff happens
Guest
Marvellous player for Australia, often underrated for some reason. Very best wishes to him & his family.Let's hope he makes a full recovery