“I knew the time would come, and people would keep telling me. Finally did get it. It’s super-special for, like I said, me and my family.”
In a statistical twist, it was worked out Lonergan was the 150th player to debut for the Wallabies since his Brumbies teammate James Slipper debuted in 2010 – and it happened in Slipper’s 150th Test.
Ryan and Lachlan Lonergan at Eden Park on Saturday.Credit: Rugby Australia/Julius Dimitaga
Lachlan, who won eight caps in 2021 and 2022, was at Eden Park amid a squadron of Lonergan’s family and friends, and Ryan hopes they can one day play Test rugby together. The last brothers to play together for the Wallabies were Ant and Saia Faingaa.
Lonergan’s Wallabies debut was a just reward given he has turned down numerous overseas offers in the pursuit of playing for his country.
“It was always the goal. I probably wouldn’t have felt right leaving after all the hard work I’ve done,” Lonergan said. “Maybe the longer I had to wait for it, the less I wanted to leave. You know what I mean? I was working hard for it. It was always the goal. I just got on with it.”
He was thrown in the deep end of Test rugby against the All Blacks at Eden Park, but, seasoned by 93 Super Rugby games and five Australia A caps, Lonergan looked at home.
“I think it did (help), definitely. I’ve played a few games here (at Eden Park) as well. I did feel quite comfortable out there, even though there were a few errors out there,” he said.
“I probably was a little bit surprised, as it just (felt like) another game of rugby. The Super Rugby experience was really quality for me.”
Lonergan’s composure and maturity was so evident it brought to mind Adam Gilchrist debuting for the Australian Test team at 27 – and then going on to be a star player for almost 100 Tests.
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He won’t get to 100 Tests, but Lonergan has the potential to do something similar and play a key role in the Rugby World Cup in 2027. McDermott and Lonergan are both 27, and Gordon, likely to return against the All Blacks, is 32.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies on Sunday confirmed Will Skelton and Rob Valetini will re-join the squad for the second Bledisloe Test in Perth, and Josh Flook will also come in.
Len Ikitau was removed from the field in Auckland in the second half but the star centre is set to be available. Coach Joe Schmidt said he was suffering from the after-effects of a virus early in the week.
Watch all the action from the 2025 Rugby Championship on Stan Sport.