My memories of the RWC.

1987 team: semi-final, France 30 Australia 24. Gutted that Wallabies lost but France had a special team, wonderful entertainers.

1987 individual: the extraordinary athleticism of Michael Jones and the latent power of Wayne Shelford.

1991 team: semi-final, Wallabies 16 All Blacks 6. The ABs were blacked out by campo magic.

1991 individual: the maverick David campus weaving his magic.

1995 team: final, Boks 15 All Blacks 12. As the saying goes, a champion team will beat a team of champions. But were the Froggies denied a legitimate try in the s/f against the Boks?

1995 individual: obviously the rhino Jonah Lomu, but also the electrifying runs from the scrum base by Joost VDW; plus the audacity of Zinzan Brooke to try the impossible; & prince of centres Phillippe Sella.

1999 team: semi-final, France 43 New Zealand 31. This game defies belief, even 24 years later. What a turnaround, what an upset!

1999 individual: The amazing Tim Horan sometimes pulled the Wallabies through all by himself.

2003 team: semi-final: Wallabies 22 All Blacks 10. What was so good about it was that it was so unexpected.

2003 individual: For me, the flanker Richard Hill & not flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson was the star of the show. Mr Eveready battery man, he seemed to have inexhaustible amounts of energy, being everywhere all the time.

2007 team: quarter-final: France 20 New Zealand 18. Who would have thought such a powerful team as this ABs would be beaten? Another game that defied belief.

2007 individual: Brayn Habana I think was named player of the tournament, but Victor Matfield was the man, a clossussus who dominated all he surveyed.

2011 team: quarter-final, Wallabies 11 Boks 9. How the Wallabies won this, nobody knows. If ever a team butchered a game, it was the Boks on this day.

2011 individual: Captain courageous Richie McCaw playing with a broken bone in his foot (I think) & leading a team to victory ripped of some key players, namely Dan Carter. French captain Serge Betsen was just as heroic for his team.

2015 team: final, New Zealand 34 Australia 15. I prefer the final because we saw the greatest rugby team in history provide a masterclass.

2015 individual: after 2 previous heartaches at the RWC, Dan Carter finally demonstrated why he is the greatest flyhalf in history. For me, rugby history kinda ended here.

2019: lost interest.

Chris1 – exactly.

Utah,
I’m not surprised. If I was into the stock market, I would be calling him too.
I asked Matt if he could chase up some obscure Wallabies DoBs, guys who toured w/o playing a test, or sat on a home bench w/o getting a run.
I was amazed at his success rate.
There was a guy from my time, John Lewis (no relation to Wally), Qld & Aussie schoolboy 1973/74, captain in 74 & played for Sydney in 1977 before disappearing.
But Matt found his DoB.
I might call on him again. Jim Miller, Qld backrower mid-70s, not the 60s Wallaby prop, can’t get his DoB. QRU no help at all.
Miller played in a couple of Wallaby tour trials before losing his spot to Cornelsen when Corny moved north.
Matt is a genius!

Jeznez,

I asked my schoolmate who was Wallaby manager from 1996 to 2001, this question several years ago: “Who was the better lock partner to Eales, McCall or Giffin”?

He picked McCall by a split-hair, saying his workrate was phenomenal, while Giffin was a very intelligent player. My preference was Giffen, but on his say-so I now go for McCall before Giffen.

Vickerman wasn’t part of the time period discussed, but I suspect he might possibly pip both McCall & Giffen. This will be a good test of Roarers’ knowledge. It will be interesting.

Grem,
One of the sad things in life is that very few people are willing to stand by their principles. When push comes to shove, they fold. Rubiales knows this, & is staring down his opponents to see who blinks first.
Already, his fellow RFEF members have rolled around like drunken sailors, swaying from one side to another, to see which way the wind of public opinion is blowing. Many of the RFEF don’t know if they’re Arthur or Martha, or perhaps Luis or Louisa!
The fact they’re waiting to see which way the public wind blows tells you they don’t have much strong personal values, or a moral compass, to begin with. They need public opinion to tell them the right thing to do.
Also, 81 leading players, including the entire 23 person WWC winning squad, have said they will not play for Spain until Rubiales is removed. How long are they willing to wait for this to happen?
Remember, 15 leading players refused to be selected for the WWC unless coach Jorge Vilda was removed. When he wasn’t, 8 of the squad capitulated, but only 3 of them made the final squad.
The resolve of these young women will be tested. Does Spain as a country have the moral fortitude to do the right thing by these women, or not. Right now, the jury appears to be out, or worse, is struggling with the right thing to do.

Sofa Coach,

You make good points. I’ve actually found the exercise helpful, crystallising my thoughts on each position, even when the fans went a different way to me.

My only 2 dissensions to date are #13 & #6, but that’s okay. Also, Campese was mostly a right-winger. But because I’m also willing to play Lynagh at #12 when selecting all-time XVs, I can’t quibble about that.

You’re never going to get everyone to agree, which is perfectly acceptable. That said, the first choice players in most cases pick themselves. Not much has changed since 2007. Pocock probably the only truly great player since then.

A handful of others in the mix, but not top of the class!

I feel sorry for the 5.6% who voted for someone else. Your rugby knowledge is severely impaired. Perhaps more correctly, non-existent!

Eales is the #1 all-time Wallaby.

Porkchop,

Only because I saw a photo in the book Wallaby Gold with Poidevin & #6 on his back. I honestly thought he had mostly played open-side & Ofahengaue blind-side, & I still think that’s how it happened.

Poido wearing #6 is another throwback like Campo wearing #11 irrespective of specific position. From 1982 to 84, when Poidevin & Roche were the Wallaby flankers, Rochey played as an unofficial #7 (open-side) & Poido as an unofficial #6 (blind-side).

I think Poido wanted to keep wearing #6 from that time irrespective of which side of the scrum he was on. Team seniority has its rewards!

Chris Lewis,

Good article. I’ll need to re-read it again sometime today to fully absorb your message.

Is this slime still hanging around?

Brainstrust – “Imagine if Trump had turned up and laid one on Rapine” could be interpreted several ways. Whichever way, he would have been up on assault! Again…..

Porkchop,

In the 1991 WC final, Poidevin wore #6, Ofahengaue wore #7 & Coker wore #8. Gavin injured on eve of WC. Miller omitted after QF.

In the 1995 WC quarter-final, Ofahengaue won #6, Wilson wore #7 & Gavin wore #8.

In the 1999 WC final, Cockbain wore #6 (replaced by Finegan), Wilson wore #7 & Kefu wore #8.

In the 2003 WC final, Smith wore #6 (playing out of true position), Waugh wore #7 & Lyons wore #8. Kefu injured on eve of WC & Finegan surprisingly omitted.

Correct Jeznez,

As I pointed out for the #7 selection, Australian didn’t formalise open-side & blind-side until 1992. When David Wilson arrived on the scene he was the acknowledged finest, true open-side flanker in Oz, so there was no point in him playing that position only half the time.

It also meant Ofahengaue became the dedicated blind-side flanker. In 1990-91, Ofahengaue’s explosiveness meant he could cover both 6 & 7 but with Wilson’s arrival, 6 became Willie O’s true position.

When Poidevin & Miller were playing in the back-half of the 90s, both were of similar height, size & mobility, so it made sense for them to share by playing left & right.

So I think it’s true enough to acknowledge Wilson & Ofahengaue as the first acknowledged & dedicated open-side & blind-side flankers for the Wallabies. 1992, not that long ago. NZ had been doing it since it seems forever, & SA for a while longer than Oz.

Jeznez,

This is where the nomination committee appears to have stuffed up. If you’re on the nomination committee you really ought to know your stuff, or do the proper research.

Didn’t they know that Campese was mostly a right-winger or that Ofahengaue was almost exclusively a blind-side flanker?

Or what about Pockock? He was outstanding in 3 different positions, but the blind-side flanker is the one possie he could have nailed down.

It’s difficult to trust your sources if they get it wrong themselves. My primary source is Peter Jenkins’ book Wallaby Gold. It is current only up to 2002.

I’ve had quite a bit to do with his statistician from that book Matt Alvarez, now the official RA statistician, seeking further info on various players. He very kindly gave me updated Wallaby player info to the end of 2007, which is pretty much where my interest began to wane.

And just as an aside, he was able to find lesser known players’ date of birth where I had simply run into a brick wall. The guy is a genius statistician in my humble opinion.

I can’t speak highly enough of Alvarez, who I think is incredibly thorough, & therefore incredibly accurate & credible.

The nominators of this exercise on The Roar should perhaps have consulted Alvarez. Anyway, too late now.

So Finegan gets the prize. I’m a fan of Finegan, although I think Willie O was the better player. I wonder if Willie O lost out due to his votes being split among 2 positions?
I’m also surprised that Pockock wasn’t nominated at blind-side as I think he was the best over the past 35 years. So much for me thinking a player could be nominated for only one position. When Campese was nominated only for left-wing, I thought this was the case, but apparently not.
What is interesting is that Cockbain has so little love. What is intriguing is that with his & Finegan’s careers overlapping, Cockbain was preferred more often to Finegan. Although, as I said, I preferred Finegan.
But Cockbain was a wholehearted player, one of those guys who went about his business without any fuss, & consequently wasn’t as appreciated as perhaps he should have been.
This is my second disagreement with the Roar fans. I would have Pocock at #6 & Little at #13, otherwise, I’m enjoying the exercise.

The blind side flanker now becomes curiouser, with Ofahengaue, Pocock & Poidevin removed as nominations, being nominated elsewhere.

That leaves Finegan, Cockbain, Elsom & Fardy as the primary options. Cockbain should get it on appearances, but Finegan is the folk hero. Don’t tell me they think Jeff Miller is a blind side flanker. Strange…

The Wallabies could improve themselves enormously by recruiting league players in almost every position. But they can’t afford them.

The reality is this: Oz league has the first-raters, second-raters & third raters in quality, while Oz rugby has the 4th-raters & 5th raters in quality. That’s why NRL is killing it, despite being a big fish in an insignificant international pool.

And that’s why rugby is becoming ever so much more insignificant in this country. No talent & no money.

Les Zig,

Too sensible a suggestion for this joint…

Since 2 responses to Aussie D have disappeared into the ether, I’ll repost as a general response.

When Gavin was injured just prior to the start of the 1991 RWC, coach Dwyer took a while to figure out his best combination.

Consequently, Eales, Ofahengaue & Coker (semi & final) each started twice at #8. Ofahengaue played his other 4 matches at flanker & in 1991 played 3 matches at blindside flanker.

Gavin played all 4 matches at #8 at the 1995 RWC.

It wasn’t until David Wilson made his test debut in 1992 that Australia formally adopted the NZ system of dedicated openside & blindside flankers. Prior to this they tended to play right & left.

So Wilson was the first dedicated openside flanker in Wallaby history. In the same year 1992, Ofahengaue became a dedicated blindside flanker, having made his test debut in 1990.

When selecting all-time Wallaby flankers prior to 1992 you had to make a judgement call on whether they were suited to openside flanker or blindside flanker.

I trust this helps.

Hey editors,

I’ve had 2 posts to Aussie D disappear. Are you blocking me for demonstrating TOO much Wallaby history knowledge?

Aussie D,

When Gavin was injured just prior to the start of the 1991 RWC, it took coach Dwyer a while to figure out his best combination.

Consequently, Eales, Ofahengaue & Coker (semi & final) each played 2 games at #8 in that order. I’m pretty sure they are the only 2 occasions Ofahengaue played #8 in his entire test career.

Ofahengaue played his other 4 matches in 1991 at flanker & 3 times at blindside flanker in 1995. Gavin played all 4 matches at #8 in the 1995 WC.

It wasn’t until 1992 when David Wilson began his career at openside flanker did the Wallabies formally adopt the NZ system of playing dedicated openside & blindside flankers. Prior to this they tended to play right & left.

Therefore Wilson was the very first dedicated openside flanker for the Wallabies.

It was in this same year that Ofahengaue became the dedicated blindside flanker, having made his test debut in 1990.

Whenever selecting flankers prior to 1992 for all-time Wallaby teams, you have to make a judgement call on who was best suited to openside & who was best suited to blindside flanker.

I trust this helps.

Aussie D,

When Gavin was injured just prior to the start of the 1991 RWC, it took coach Dwyer a while to decide his best configuration.

Eales, Ofahengaue & Coker (semi & final) played the position twice each in that order. I’m pretty sure these are the only 2 occasions Ofahengaue played #8 in his entire career. So he should not be among the nominations.

Gavin played all 4 matches of the 1995 RWC at #8.

AgainAgain,
Seriously, who cares?

Whizz,
And also in the same series he tried to rip Poidevin’s head off, who had his hands pinned in the maul & couldn’t defend himself.
Shelford, like a lot of ABs, played at the edge of the laws.

cinque,

Gould only played the 1st game in 1987 before injury, which is insufficient for nomination or selection.

If the selection was framed differently, say best players from 1987 to present, irrespective of how many tests they played, then Gould would certainly be in the mix.