Burke came close but my record still stands!
The Rugby Paper|March 29, 2020
EVERYONE needs opportunities to get on in life, whether it’s through good luck, good timing or someone else’s misfortune, and I am thankful to the ones that have come my way.
MICHAEL LYNAGH
Burke came close but my record still stands!

Had I not gone on the Australian schoolboys’ tour to America and the UK in 1981/82 and missed the summer back home, cricket would have probably continued to be my main sporting interest and who knows what would have happened from there? Instead I came back in the January and was selected for the senior Queensland team, coached by ‘Tempo’ Bob Templeton, and never donned the whites again.

Then, there was my first cap, against Fiji in 1984. It was only because Michael Hawker had planned to get married at that time and did not travel to Suva that I got my chance, playing outside the great Mark Ella.

I stayed at centre for the first few Tests of my 72-cap career, including the 1984 ‘Grand Slam’ tour of the UK. There’s all this old footage of the tour and over Christmas they replayed the Wales game on Fox back in Australia. My three boys – all players at the Harlequins academy – said, ‘dad, it’s like it’s in slow motion’. And they were right, the pace of the game was nothing like it is today. The only thing that’s not in slow motion was the scrums, they got the ball in and got it done. I’d love to see that happen now.

I was having a bit of goal-kicking trouble in the first two Tests on the tour, so Roger Gould took the duties on against Wales, but I was given the job back against Scotland and kicked beautifully, scoring 21 points. I equalled Paul McLean’s Australian record for most points in a match that day.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 29, 2020-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 29, 2020-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE RUGBY PAPERAlle anzeigen
England can find a little bit of cheer
The Rugby Paper

England can find a little bit of cheer

SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
The Rugby Paper

Stop messing with Marcus - Campese

DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
The Rugby Paper

Being a Lion was the highlight of my career

I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
The Rugby Paper

Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half

THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
The Rugby Paper

Forwards pack a punch for the Reds

OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
The Rugby Paper

Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley

SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
The Rugby Paper

Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon

FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
The Rugby Paper

It's a whole new ball game for Rigg

WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
The Rugby Paper

Scarratt leads the way for Lightning

LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
The Rugby Paper

Becconsall: We need to release pressure

WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 24, 2024