Australian Rugby
Michael Lynagh enters Hall of Fame
ESPNscrum Staff
September 6, 2013
Michael Lynagh scored 17 Test tries for Australia © PA Photos
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Michael Lynagh fields questions from the media, London Zoo, April 25, 2013
Michael Lynagh remains Australia's leading points scorer in Test rugby © Getty Images
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Michael Lynagh has entered the Wallaby Hall of Fame as the third and final inductee for 2013, just a week after he was named among the inaugural inductees to the Queensland Rugby Union Hall of Fame. He joins Charlie "Chucker" Eastes and Bill Cerutti as the 2013 Wallaby Hall of Fame inductees, the trio to be recognised formally at the John Eales Medal in late October.

Lynagh's talent was recognised early, making his Queensland Reds state debut in 1982 before he played first grade, and he was selected in the Wallabies squad to tour France in 1983. He won the first of his 72 Test caps in 1984, against Fiji in Suva, kicking three penalty goals in the Wallabies' 16-3 victory and showing quality enough to earn a spot on the famous 1984 Grand Slam Tour of Europe.

He played all four of the Grand Slam Tests at inside centre, and he kicked five penalty goals and three conversions as Australia defeated Scotland 37-12 in the final match to complete their sweep of the home nations.

Lynagh assumed the No.10 jersey in 1985 from Mark Ella, who retired, and becoming one of Australia's greatest fly-halves and one of the most prolific points scorers in world rugby. He developed a strong partnership with Wallabies captain and scrum-half Nick Farr-Jones, the pair playing 47 Tests together and delivering Australia their first Rugby World Cup triumph in 1991.

Lynagh took over the captaincy of the Wallabies in 1993, after the retirement of Nick Farr-Jones, leading the team in 12 Tests until his retirement in 1995.

Lynagh scored 17 Test tries and kicked 140 conversions, 177 penalty goals, nine drop goals and for what was at the time a world-record points tally of 911. He is still the Australian points scoring, ahead of Matt Burke (878).

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