Lynagh makes case for Wallabies recall as flyhalf race heats up ahead of Lions tour

Tom Lynagh's fledgling Wallabies career stalled when Joe Schmidt overlooked him for last year's season-ending tour but the young flyhalf's Super Rugby form has given selectors food for thought ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour.

Lynagh scored two tries in another encouraging outing to help the Reds rebound from back-to-back defeats with a 35-21 victory against the Blues on Friday.

The Player-of-the-Match performance continues a strong run this season for Lynagh, whose stock has risen even as Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio's has dipped with inconsistency at the Brumbies.

Reds coach Les Kiss, heavily backed to succeed Schmidt when the New Zealander steps down after this year's Rugby Championship, can see 22-year-old Lynagh back in a gold jersey for the three-test series against the Lions.

"He'll be in the hunt," Kiss told reporters on Monday.

"He's certainly getting better and better, isn't he?"

There are five rounds left before the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs, and the battle among Australia's top flyhalves is heating up.

James O'Connor, who wore the number 10 shirt in the 2-1 series defeat to the Lions in 2013, has put himself in the selection frame with poised performances for the second-placed Crusaders.

Ben Donaldson, who joined Lolesio on the Wallabies' Northern Hemisphere tour last year, could also hope to impress selectors in the raised intensity of playoffs matches if Perth-based Western Force can hold their place in the top six.

Lolesio, Schmidt's preferred number 10 last year, has time to strengthen his case at the helm of the third-placed Brumbies.

Lynagh, the youngest and least experienced of the four, would be a bold choice to throw into the cauldron of a Lions series, 12 years after O'Connor struggled as Robbie Deans's anointed number 10.

But as the son of former Wallabies number 10 Michael Lynagh, some fans might think it fitting if Tom took the reins.

His pedigree has been both a blessing and a curse, with great expectations baked into one of the most recognisable surnames in Australian rugby.

There seemed to be a touch of destiny when he made his test debut off the bench against Wales last season but by the end of the year he was down the pecking order.

Lynagh shrugged off the disappointment of missing the Northern Hemisphere tour on a fruitful trip to Japan with the Reds before joining the Wallabies' reserve XV team in Britain.

His improvement at the Reds this year has been helped by his halves partnership with Tate McDermott, the frontrunner for the Wallabies' No 9 jersey.

"I think our boys are doing well in that area," said Kiss.

"We're going a pretty good job of making sure our players are skilled properly (for Wallabies selection), mentally tough and ready to do their bit in good times and tough times."