Lynagh blasts Eales over test disaster

Michael Lynagh has turned the blowtorch on Wallaby skipper John Eales and playmaker Stephen Larkham as Australian rugby continues to reel after the first test disaster against the Lions.

After the humiliating 13-29 defeat in Brisbane, former Wallaby skipper and World Cup winner Lynagh, writing for an internet rugby site, changed his usual conservative stance to criticise the two Wallaby stars.

"With thoughts of retirement in the back of [Eales'] mind he looked like someone who wished he hung up his boots last year," wrote Lynagh.

"From my own experience, once you start thinking and talking about retirement, it is time to go.

"I feel the Lions are happy to see an underprepared, injured and distracted Eales playing next Saturday rather than Justin Harrison, who cut a swath through the tourists in the Australia A match earlier in the tour."

The 31-year-old Eales has played 80 tests and led the Wallabies to their last World Cup triumph but has struggled with an Achilles' tendon injury and was expected to stand down at the end of this season.

While questioning Eales' enthusiasm, Lynagh also pondered how motivated Larkham had been in recent weeks.

"His form has been strangely lacklustre in the last three games," said Lynagh.

"In the Super 12 final, against the Maori and last Saturday night, he has fallen off tackles, got caught with the ball and generally not seemed that enthusiastic about playing.

"This has seemingly rubbed off on the rest of the Wallabies who have relied on him so much in recent seasons."

Both Eales and Larkham are expected to be fit for Saturday's second test in Melbourne. But while Australian bookmakers have made the Wallabies favourites again, at reduced odds, Lynagh is not convinced.

The predictions are being played out against a backdrop of gloating from Britain, Wallaby-bashing and curiosity about the style of Lions coach Graham Henry in the wake of Matt Dawson's newspaper outburst against his boss.

Headlines from England were in full voice: "Sealed with O'Dris" came from the News of the World as they gave impeccable 10 out of 10 ratings to Brian O'Driscoll, Jason Robinson, Rob Howley, Keith Wood and Martin Johnson.

"Gabba-Dabba-Doo says Proud Johno" came from the Sunday People while the Sunday Mirror headlined the verdict of former Lion Phil Bennett with "Not Bad for a Load of Boring, Dirty Ruckers!"

Not surprisingly, the Sunday People had the most florid appraisal of the first test.

"Ned Kelly, Rolf Harris, Crocodile Dundee, Steve Waugh, Bob Hawke," their story began, "your boys took one hell of a beating.

"That's right. GLOAT. For one moment forget you are British. Take that unrivalled sporting arrogance and toss it right back at them.

"If you know an exiled Aussie, get round there now. If you have a mate in Sydney, a pal in Melbourne, or an old college chum in Perth, get on the blower and get them out of bed AND GLOAT."

The Australian media did not go quietly, they lambasted the world-champion Wallabies.

Sydney Morning Herald rugby writer Greg Growden gave thanks that the Wallabies did not face a full-strength Lions side as a drubbing would have turned into carnage.

"Australia suffered their worst international occasion since the embarrassment of Pretoria in 1997 when belted 61-22 by the Springboks," he wrote.

Lynagh, for one, wondered how the Wallabies could turn it all round in a week.

"The last time the Lions were in this country, Australia outplayed them in the first test and the Lions came back to win the series.

"I honestly can't see the Wallabies effecting such a turnaround, but then again we didn't see it happening in 1989 either."