Lynagh backs the Woodward line

Autumn internationals: Forerunner of the modern Australians sees bright things ahead for England

Long before it became politically and morally incorrect to skin a wallaby, Australia were easy meat in the international game. With only a handful of world-class players, major tours were relatively minor affairs, defeats usually outnumbering victories. And then came the class of '84.

Alan Jones, rugby's answer to Barry Humphries, talked and coached a good game and Australia completed such a stylish Grand Slam that even the inhabitants of Kangaroo Island sat up and took notice. David Campese was strutting his stuff on the wing and Mark Ella was the stand-off, so Michael Lynagh, the tour's top points-scorer, played centre. "That's when it all came together,'' Lynagh said. "Queensland had started to challenge New South Wales, and rugby featured in the new Institute of Sport. It snowballed.''

It was one of Jones' predecessors, Bob Templeton, who set the ball rolling the previous decade. He travelled, listened and learned, not least from Carwyn James in Wales, the first man to inspire a victorious Lions team in the 20th century, on the 1972 tour to New Zealand and Australia. A biography, Carwyn, by Alun Richards, first published in 1984, makes a timely reappearance thanks to the Swansea publishers Christopher Davies, on 29 November. Significantly, James never coached Wales, a country that has squandered its legacy while Australia, who never had a real heritage, have gone on to win the World Cup twice, the only country to do so.

Nevertheless, the Wallabies, who tackle England next Saturday, have lost their last two autumn Tests at Twickenham. "If I was a betting man,'' Lynagh said, "I'd have to put my money on England. That way I'd be in a no-loss situation. If England win, my bet would be successful. If they lost I'd be a very happy man. It's not very pleasant losing to England in anything.''

Lynagh retired from international rugby after the 1995 World Cup, as Australia's captain and the world's all-time leading scorer with 911 points from 72 Tests, a total that has since been surpassed by Neil Jenkins. Lynagh was every bit as gracious in defeat, when Rob Andrew's late drop-goal knocked the Wallabies out in South Africa, as he had been in victory at Twickenham four years earlier.

He also played for the Italian club Treviso – he has settled there with his family – and Saracens. "When I moved to London, English professional rugby was just dipping its toe in the water. Players started to realise that it involved a lot more than simply getting paid. In four years the game is unrecognisable. The club scene in England is very well-organised. Everything is there and when the players turn up for England they are thoroughly prepared.

"Clive Woodward has embraced all this and has developed a very good side. There are a couple of thin areas, like centre, but they're very strong in crucial positions. They are well-led by a number of players and they seem to be a happy squad, which is important. They are not afraid to change patterns and make decisions on the hoof and above all Woodward has changed the way they think. That is not an easy thing to do in English sport. He's done a terrific job.''

At Test cricket, the Australians are spoilt for choice; in rugby union, which competes against rugby league and Aussie Rules, they choose from just three professional teams. "Having a shallow pool is actually an advantage,'' says Lynagh. "There are a small number of schools and clubs and a kid that shows talent is easy to spot. Then they are nurtured and coached. The players we've got are looked after very well.''

The Wallabies have managed to recruit a couple of big league names, Mat Rogers and Wendell Sailor, but the former was one of the victims of last week's notorious match against Argentina. He was out of yesterday's Test in Ireland and could miss the game against England. The Pumas were accused of playing the man, not the ball, and the counter-accusation is that the Wallabies are "professional cheats''. Being described as amateur cheats would be even worse.

Whereas Jonny Wilkinson is generally accepted as the best in his position, categorising Stephen Larkham, Lynagh's successor to the No 10 jersey, is not so easy. "He's a very interesting player who has a distinctive way about him,'' Lynagh said. "Wilkinson has given England another dimension which comes with experience and he's very different to Larkham, who appears to be laid-back. Whether he's picking up runners or going himself, Larkham seems to make good decisions. Left alone for a fraction, he's dangerous. Like Tim Horan, he's got wonderful balance. He doesn't look that quick or physically strong but he must be. He's crucial to Australia.''

Tomorrow Lynagh, who frequently commutes from Italy to commentate on rugby for Sky television, will pop in to the International Rugby Board headquarters in Dublin to clear his desk. Appointed by the IB in April in an executive role to, among other things, help promote the game, he resigned a few weeks ago, the abandonment of the northern hemisphere-southern hemisphere showpiece, which was scheduled for Twickenham on 30 November, bringing matters to a head.

A confidentiality clause prevents Lynagh (the IB have more D-notices than the Ministry of Defence) from talking about it but, contrary to popular opinion, he did not leave because the match, which was designed to raise money for the have-nots, collapsed. In fact it was the opposite. Lynagh and others became disillusioned when the IB, against overwhelming evidence that the timing of the match caused friction with clubs, players and unions, attempted to carry on regardless. "It's easy to retire from the game, sit back and criticise,'' Lynagh said. "I wanted to make a contribution but it didn't work out.''

It is understood the IB told him to go on holiday. Instead he packed his bags for good, announcing that he did not want to "prolong the agony''.