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It has always been a source of great regret for me that the Rugby World Cup didn’t arrive earlier, say 1983. There were many fine players running around then, especially Australians, whose presence would have enriched such a comp.
Not to mention the many fine players from elsewhere.
Of course, this is an argument that can go as far back as possible depending on one’s vintage. There are probably plenty of Welshmen of a certain generation who wish for example, there had been a World Cup in the early to mid 70s, when Wales were one of the best rugby teams around.
But let’s look at 1983 and I’ll just present composite squads of 22, without too much comment, as close as possible to what might have been chosen back then. If the selections generate any comment, I can discuss this in my replies.
Players who retired in tests in 1982 are assumed to have made themselves available in 1983 with the knowledge the world cup was coming. Also defections to league are deferred a year, and injuries at the time are ignored for the purpose of the exercise.
It’s a wish list of realistically potential best available at the time.
AUSTRALIA: Roger Gould, David Campese, Mick O’Connor, Mike Hawker, Brendan Moon, Mark Ella(vc), Phil Cox, Mark Loane(c), Chris Roche, Simon Poidevin, Steve Williams, David Hillhouse, Andy McIntyre, Billy Ross, Tony D’Arcy. Bench: Glen Ella, Andy Slack, Tony Parker, Steve Tuynman, Nigel Holt, Stan Pilecki, Mark McBain.
NEW ZEALAND: Allan Hewson, Stu Wilson, Steve Pokere, Warwick Taylor, Bernie Fraser, Wayne Smith, Dave Loveridge(vc), Murray Mexted, Graham Mourie(c), Mark Shaw, Andy Haden, Gary Whetton, Andy Knight, Andy Dalton, John Ashworth. Bench: Robbie Deans, Craig Green, Andy Donald, Jock Hobbs, Graeme Higginson, Kevin Boroevich, Hika Reid.
ENGLAND: Dusty Hare, John Carleton, Clive Woodward, Paul Dodge, Mike Slemen, Les Cusworth, Steve Smith(vc), John Scott, Peter Winterbottom, Nick Jeavons, Maurice Colclough, Bill Beaumont(c), Gary Pearce, Peter Wheeler, Colin Smart. Bench: Marcus Rose, Huw Davies, Nigel Melville, Bob Hesford, Steve Bainbridge, Phil Blakeway, Steve Mills.
FRANCE: Serge Blanco, Patrice Lagisquet, Phillippe Sella, Didier Codorniou, Patrick Esteve, Jean-Patrick Lescaboura, Jerome Gallion(vc), Jean-Luc Joinel, Jean-Pierre Rives(c), Laurent Rodriguez, Jean Condom, Jean-Claude Orso, Robert Paparemborde, Phillippe Dintrans, Pierre Dospital. Bench: Jean-Baptiste Lafond, Didier Camberabero, Pierre Berbizier, Dominic Erbani, Alain Lorieux, Michel Cremaschi, Daniel Dubroca.
WALES: Mark Wyatt, Elgan Rees, Dave Richards, Rob Ackerman, Clive Rees, Gareth Davies(c), Terry Holmes, Eddie Butler(vc), Dai Pickering, Jeff Squire, Dick Moriarty, Bob Norster, Graham Price, Billy James, Stack Jones. Bench: Mark Ring, Malcolm Dacey, Gerald Williams, Gareth Williams, John Perkins, Ian Stephens, Alan Phillips.
SCOTLAND: Andy Irvine(c), Keith Robertson, Jim Renwick, Dave Johnston, Roger Baird, John Rutherford, Ray Laidlaw, Ian Paxton, Doug Leslie, Jim Calder, Alan Tomes, Bill Cuthbertson, Ian Milne, Colin Deans, Jim Aitken(vc). Bench: Peter Dods, Bryan Gossman, Gordon Hunter, Derek White, John Beattie, Gerry McGuinness, Rob Cunningham.
IRELAND: Hugo MacNeill, Trevor Ringland, Dave Irwin, Mike Kiernan, Moss Finn, Ollie Campbell(vc), Robbie McGrath, Willie Duggan, Fergus Slattery, John O’Driscoll, Moss Keane, Donal Lenihan, Gerry Mcloughlin, Ciaran Fitzgerald(c), Phil Orr. Bench: Paul Dean, Tony Ward, Mike Bradley, Col Tucker, Ronan Kearney, Mike Fitzpatrick, Harry Harbinson.
ARGENTINA: Martin Sansot, Jose Palma, Marcelo Loffreda, Rafael Madero, Marcelo Campo, Hugo Porta(c), Guillermo Soares-Gache, Ernesto Ure, Tomas Petersen(vc), Gabriel Travaglini, Alejandro Iachetti, Gustavo Milano, Topo Rodriguez, Andres Courreges, Serafin Dengra. Bench: Bernado Miguens, Diego Cuesta-Silva, Javier Miguens, Jorge Allen, Eliseo Branca, Fernando Morel, Alejandro Cubelli.
South Africa were finding themselves increasingly isolated and it is unlikely they would have been invited, especially after the civil turmoil caused during their 1981 tour of New Zealand.
However, they would have had a formidable team if participating, with a dazzling backline to complement their usual tough forwards.
SOUTH AFRICA: Johan Heunis, Ray Mordt, Willie du Plessis, Danie Gerber, Carel du Plesis, Naas Botha, Divan Serfontein(vc), Theuns Stofberg(c), Rob Louw, Burger Geldenhuys, Louis Moolman, Shalk Burger, Hempies du Toit, Uli Schmidt, Ockie Oosthuizen. Bench: Colin Beck, Michael du Plessis, Barry Wolmarans, Jannie Breedt, Rudi Visagie, Flippie van der Merwe, Chris Rogers.
For fans of my generation, many of these names leap off the page, so many great players, so many competitive teams. So who would have won?
Well firstly, we will assume the inaugural RWC in 1983 was held in the northern hemisphere, with the final probably at Twickenham. With South Africa out of the picture, it would largely depend on who was drawn against who in the pools.
In any case, I reckon Australia, New Zealand and France would have been semi-finalists, with any of the other five making up the fourth semi-finalist.
Argentina had the talent to make the final four, but whether they had enough ‘big occasion’ nous about them at the time, was a concern for them.
Note that Ireland were Five Nations champions in 1982 (England and Scotland equal second), and shared the title in 83 with France, while Scotland were champions in 84 (France runners-up).
As for inaugural RWC champions in 1983, had it happened, France would have been the team to have peaked at the right time.
It was interesting when Australia toured France in 1983 they were terrified of playing their expansive running game against the lightning quick French backline, who would have punished poorly executed moves in a flash.
The French also had a powerful, aggressive pack, with a good mixture of youth and experience. And of course, they were led by Jean-Pierre Rives, the “Victor Trumper of rugby”, who would not have been out of place as a hero in a golden age.
You could not but admire the beauty and courage of his play.
As for their opponents, it would have been Australia or New Zealand, depending on who played who in the semis. Australia had the most creative backline in the game, but their forward pack was solid at best, rather than the great machine it became 12 months later.
New Zealand were clinically efficient in everything they did, as per usual at the time. Although the British and Irish teams were on a decline at the time, they would still have been enormously competitive.
Anyway, enjoy the trip down memory lane.
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