The 20-year-old son of Wallabies’ World Cup winner Michael Lynagh was among the try-scorers as Harlequins thrashed a Wasps side containing ex-All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and Lima Sopoaga.
Louis Lynagh, a specialist fullback playing on the Quins’ wing, scampered away for a 40m intercept try in a 49-17 victory on Sunday (Monday NZ time).
Lynagh, who had earlier made a slashing 40m break to set up a try for ex-England halfback Danny Care, is eligible for England, Australia and Italy, and has already been an England under-18 international.
His mother is Italian, and he was born in Treviso, but the family moved to London when he was four.
He immediately started to play rugby at the Richmond club.
Lynagh told Rugby World magazine in January: “My dad tells a funny story about getting a call from [former England prop] Jason Leonard after my first session because me and his son had got in a fight at training.’’
At 13, he joined Harlequins, and has this season graduated to the senior squad where former All Blacks first five-eighth Nick Evans is one of his coaches.
He made his premiership debut as a replacement fullback against Leicester last October, and impressed with a couple of piledriving tackles on the Tigers’ giant Fijian wing Nemani Nadolo.
Lynagh got his first start against Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears before Christmas.
Harlequins, who also scored a penalty try, were ruthless against Wasps in their first game since former coach Paul Gustard was sacked last week.
His axing served as motivation for the London-based side, according to halfback Danny Care.
“A good man lost his job last week and since then there has been a lot written about the club, so we needed to bounce back,’’ Care told BBC Sport.
“We’ve let ourselves down over the past few years, and we are all responsible for our failings. This was a good start. But one swallow doesn’t make us a top team.”
Wasps managed two tries – both converted by former Hurricanes player Jimmy Gopperth – and a penalty, kicked by fullback Sopoaga.
Wasps head coach Lee Blackett admitted to reporters that it was “a really bad day at the office’’.
“I wasn’t expecting that. I thought, after a sluggish start to the season, we had been on the way up, but we were off the pace and second best in every area. Quins were outstanding.’’
Wasps and Quins both have 19 points, but Wasps hold fifth place on points differential.
