Earlier this week, the Wallabies got good news. Playmaker Tom Lynagh, who was knocked out in a collision, has passed the concussion protocols after coming on as a substitute for last weekend’s Rugby Championship Test against Argentina. The 22-year-old returns to action following rigorous testing and accommodations. These tests, in short, ruled him fit to be picked for tomorrow’s must-win match.
Lynagh initially had to answer questions, after an attack by Irishman Dan Sheehan with a high shot during the third Test of the British and Irish Lions series. This injury meant Lynagh missed the remaining Rugby Championship matches in South Africa. Against Argentina in the recent Test, Lynagh felt his hammies tighten, and as a precaution, he came off in the second half. And although he flunked the first Head Injury Assessment (HIA), subsequent testing came back positive.
Lynagh’s Journey Back to the Field
Though the Wallabies were unable to win the series against the Lions, Lynagh made a big impression in his first three starts. He continued to show promise as a player who could become an impact player. He was instrumental in a thrilling 28-24 come-from-behind win over Argentina. Wearing the jersey number 10 while coming off the bench, Williamson was able to help set up the match-winning try only six minutes after the full-time siren.
Even though he had initially “failed” the HIA, all was not lost for Lynagh. The Wallabies confirmed, “At no point did he ever have concussion symptoms despite the result of the HIA1 being off his baseline — which could have been due to other factors at the time.” This not only calmed fans’ nerves, but told Front Office and Manager Bud Black about his health and clear path back to the field.
Update on Lynagh’s Condition
Early on Monday morning the news of Tom Lynagh’s passing came through. It made for welcome reading by the Wallabies’ coaching staff and their passionate supporters. After passing this HIA3 test, Lynagh was declared fit and ready for selection against Argentina. The Wallabies stated, “Tom is therefore cleared of concussion and is continuing to be monitored for the tight hamstring that forced him from the field on Saturday.”
This announcement is especially powerful considering Lynagh’s past experiences with head trauma. Earlier this year, he sustained three concussive injuries while playing in Test matches and Super Rugby Pacific. These events raised red flags regarding his chronic future health and on-field success.
Looking Ahead
With Lynagh back in the fold, the Wallabies will be keen to get their World Cup campaign back on track against Argentina next week. His experience in the middle will be vital for Australia. They want to continue their momentum from their last success. Assistant coach Joe Schmidt had no doubts Lynagh was ready to step up. He was particularly enamoured of Lynagh’s pivotal performance in their last-gasp win against the Pumas in Townsville.
