Michael LYNAGH

Fly-half Michael Lynagh was one third of the so called "Holy Trinity" of Australia's back division in the 80s and 90s, a formidable line up that also included David Campese and Nick Farr-Jones. During his eleven year career, "Noddy" was also the heaviest scorer in world rugby, amassing a mighty 911 points in 72 tests at a rate of almost 13 per game. His opposite number in the New Zealand side Grant Fox may have been slightly more prolific, averaging 14 per match, but Michael was superior with ball in hand and notched up an impressive 17 tries to Fox's 1. Indeed, with Mark Ella the first choice fly-half, Michael was required to show his versatility by playing inside centre for his first five tests.

The predatory instinct he gained playing in the middle of the park would prove invaluable in one of the most crucial moments of his career - the 1991 World Cup quarter final against Ireland. Lynagh's full debut came in 1984 at just 21 in a mudbath of a game against Fiji in Suva. He demonstrated his kicking ability with three penalties, but was not selected for the subsequent Bledisloe Cup due to his own doubts about his form with the boot. He was though selected for Australia's tour of the UK in the Autumn where he played alongside skipper Andrew Slack in the centres. Michael was an excellent addition to an already talented side and scored tries against England and Wales.

He then ousted both Ella and Roger Gould for the kicking role against Scotland and scored 21 points to equal Paul McClean's Australian record. The following year Michael took over the fly-half spot as a result of Mark Ella's retirement and would be a more or less automatic choice for the next ten years. Still just 22, he also set a personal milestone by scoring 23 points against Canada to break the record that he held with McClean. (Jon Collins)

The year of 1986 was a highly successful one both for Australia and Michael Lynagh. On a personal level he scored 23 points against Argentina to equal his own Australian record, whilst the team achieved the "impossible" by defeating the All Blacks in New Zealand to regain the Bledisloe Cup. On the back of this accomplishment and a demolition of France in Sydney, Australia were rapidly installed as favourites for the World Cup. Several explanations have been given why the Wallabies didn't win that tournament, but Michael Lynagh's form could not be faulted - he scored 82 points in six games and was probably Australia's best player.

However, despite a personal tally of 16 against France in the semi-finals, Michael was unable to prevent defeat. He again scored heavily in the 3rd/4th play-off against Wales in Rotorua, but 14 man Australia lost out 22-21. After a tournament of "might have beens" many shell shocked Wallabies were unable to watch the final between New Zealand and France, and so Michael organised a game of rugby league on a patch of waste ground to pass the time. The following year was a testing one for Michael after so much early success - he was overlooked for the captaincy following Andrew Slack's retirement and suffered an injury which curtailed his participation in the Bledisloe Cup.

He was subsequently omitted from the UK touring party to give him a chance to recharge the batteries, but ended up flying out at the last minute when David Knox was himself injured. Just days after arriving he was thrown in at the deep end against England at Twickenham, and then went on to play against Scotland and Italy as well. In the latter game he again notched up 23 points, the second time he had equalled his own Australian record. (Jon Collins)

The 1989 season saw the arrival of the British Lions on Australian soil for the first time since 1966 and the three test series was one to remember. Michael was a dominant figure in the Wallabies 30-12 victory in the first game and was able to put the British forwards on the back foot at will with his accurate kicking. However, the Lions levelled the series with a 19-12 triumph in the second and then took the decider 19-18. Lynagh had kept the home side in contention with several kicking and a mazy run that set up a try for wing Ian Williams, but all that work was undone by David Campese's catastrophic second half blunder. In 1990 Michael broke his own Australian record with 24 points against France in the second test at Brisbane, a tally which included two tries. He scored 11 more in the third test which took him beyond the 500 point mark, the first player in history to do so.

The 1991 home test season was also highly successful with crushing victories against both Wales and England. Michael scored 35 points over the two games but for one of the only occasions in his career was openly critical of a coach, citing Bob Dwyer's seemingly erratic selections. Despite those easy wins, a great chance was missed to win the Bledisloe Cup when Michael missed a last minute penalty against New Zealand in the 6-3 second test defeat in Auckland. That loss served to refocus the side and Australia progressed smoothly if unspectacularly through the early stages of the World Cup, despite Michael's indifferent kicking form. Then, in the quarter-finals against Ireland, it very nearly all came unstuck when opposition flanker Gordon Hamilton scored a late try to send the Lansdowne Road faithful into jigs of delight. Moments later skipper Nick Farr-Jones was forced off injured and the Wallabies looked dead and buried.

What happened next is the stuff of legends as Michael grabbed the captain's armband and inspired a comeback of epic proportions. First of all, he showed nerves of steel by instructing his teammates to eschew the safe option of a drop goal attempt that would level the game in favour of a try scoring move that would win it. When the ball broke from a scrum deep in Irish territory David Campese caused mayhem in the home defence and was stopped inches short of the line. He then threw a pass which Lynagh picked up from around his feet and then flung himself over the line to win the game (see photo above). Australia then backed up that result with a convincing semi-final win over New Zealand at the same ground. In the lead up to the final at Twickenham Michael was lacking confidence in his place kicking form and considered handing the role over to fullback Marty Roebuck.

However, the problem was rectified with hours on the practice field, including many kicks with his left foot which helped him to regain his touch and timing. The game was a tight affair and Michael's seven points were worth their weight in gold as Australia triumphed 12-6. Despite the scoreline, the Wallabies were forced into a rearguard action for much of the game and England's dominance is reflected in the statistic that opposing fly-half Rob Andrew had the ball at his disposal 51 times compared to Michael's 17. However, Australia were the deserving winners of the World Cup, and their victory was largely down to the efforts of the Holy Trinity who had first thrilled in the UK in 1984. (Jon Collins)

Like the rest of the Australian team, Michael Lynagh was in no mood to let up after the World Cup and he scored 28 points in the victorious 1992 Bledisloe Cup series. At the end of the home season, Australia then headed for South Africa for a one off test in Cape Town. The team's stay was not a happy one and Michael recalled being confronted in a lift by a South African fan wearing a Springbok shirt. The fan goaded Lynagh by purposefully holding on to the garment and sneering "See this?" Michael thought: "Yeah I can see it, mate." This and other incidents only served to fire up the Wallabies even more and they administered the home side a sound 26-3 beating, with Michael scoring 11 points.

Despite the continued presence of Nick Farr-Jones in the team, Michael was given the captaincy in 1993, an honour he felt he had deserved back in 1988. Unfortuntately he missed several tests due to illness and so hooker Phil Kearns deputised in his absence. His captaincy up until the 1995 World Cup in South Africa was solid without ever being spectacular, but Australia generally looked capable of retaining the trophy. However, the Wallabies appeared listless in the early stages of the tournament itself and lost out to the hosts in their first match, despite a good try by Lynagh in the opening stanza.

Australia eventually reached the quarter-finals to face England but played poorly by their own high standards, losing 25-22. Michael passed the 900 point mark in the game and finished with 911 - a record that would stand until broken by Neil Jenkins during the game against Western Samoa at the 1999 World Cup. He retired from international rugby after that match but continued to play at club level for big spending Saracens in the English Premiership along side fellow superstars Francois Pienaar and Phillipe Sella. (Jon Collins)