The Wallabies have moved to clarify Tom Lynagh’s condition, confirming that the young fly-half did not fail a Head Injury Assessment during last weekend’s clash with Argentina and remains in contention for the Round Four rematch in Sydney.
Lynagh, 22, left the field in Townsville with a tight hamstring, though he was also asked to undergo a HIA. Post-match, head coach Joe Schmidt appeared to suggest the playmaker had failed the check, raising doubts about his immediate availability and hinting at a longer recovery window after his recent concussion against the British and Irish Lions.
At the time, Schmidt said: “We won’t be risking him in any way, shape or form and will get him the best medical advice,” pointing to James O’Connor as the likely replacement moving forward. Talks were also expected with O’Connor’s Leicester club boss, Geoff Parling, regarding his availability for the final two tournament fixtures against New Zealand.
However, in a Monday update, Rugby Australia confirmed that Lynagh had passed his HIA, with the only concern being his hamstring strain. This latest development leaves the door open for him to feature against the Pumas in Sydney, depending on how he recovers over the course of the week.
For now, the Wallabies’ biggest call will be whether to ease Lynagh back carefully or rely again on O’Connor, who impressed when stepping into the playmaker role earlier in the campaign.
