By Uncle Argyle
December 28th 2009 @ 12:27am
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The Wallabies’ decade in review
Australian Wallabies halfback Will Genia (bottom right) passes the ball during the team training session in Brisbane, Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. The Wallabies play South Africa in their Tri-Nations match at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
If Australian rugby was a patient on the couch of a psychiatrist, and their past decade was under review, the undeniable prognosis would be, “Sir, you are the idiot savant of Australian sport.”
Since 1999, the Wallabies have reached the heights of World Cup glory in 1999 to the depths of nine consecutive Test losses in 2005. From 1999 to 2009, the Wallabies have been as brilliant as they have been bad.
The era from 1999 to 2002 was simply a golden time in Australian rugby; a near perfect 1999 World Cup campaign where only one try was scored against MacQueen’s champions – that being the Americans in Limerick during the pool stage. No mean feat when you consider other opponents in that campaign included Wales, South Africa and France. Coupled with Bledisloe Cup success, and a gutsy series victory over an outstanding British Lions team led by English legend Martin Johnson, Australia sealed the right to call themselves true world champions.
2003 to 2006 could be described as an opportunity lost and the exposure of the soft underbelly of Australian rugby. Under the stewardship of Eddie Jones, the Wallabies tasted success, yet, undoubtedly, this was the time of decline.
Making the World Cup final in 2003 was a great achievement, and early success over New Zealand are periods of note, however losses to England, Ireland and Wales exposed a weakness in scrums, basic ball running, rucking and mauling, and tackling skills were embarrassing, to say the least.
The sight of flowing Wallaby backlines mixed with damaging, uncompromising forward play quickly became conversation topics in past tense. The Australian rugby public endured robotic rugby until Jones was shown the door. Enter John Connolly.
2007 to today is the search for the ‘Messiah’ of Australian rugby. Was it John Connolly? No. A bitterly disappointing quarter final loss to the English in the 2007 World Cup sealed his fate. Still, Australian rugby had not discovered how to handle the physical confrontation of international rugby.
This task was handed to New Zealander Robbie Deans – to instill some old fashioned south island toughness into the Wallabies, and the signs are there that consistent success is not far off. Victories over world champions South Africa, coupled with solid victories over Wales and England on home soil are evidence of that.
As Australian rugby ventures into its 11th year without World Cup glory, perhaps it is clear that in the past decade the Wallabies have shown us their brilliance and, conversely, their absolute worst. If today’s crop of Wallabies are to take anything from the past 10 years, then its simply – win it in the forwards and the backs will do the rest!
My Wallaby team 1999-2009:
1. Richard Harry
2. Stephen Moore
3. Andrew Blades
4. Dan Vickerman
5. John Eales (C)
6. Owen Finnegan
7. George Smith
8. Toutai Kefu
9. George Gregan
10. Stephen Larkham
11. Ben Tune
12. Tim Horan
13. Jason Little
14. Joe Roff
15. Chris Latham
16. Benn Robinson
17. Jeremy Paul
18. Justin Harrison
19. Rocky Elsom
20. Matt Giteau
21. Dan Herbert
22. Matt Burke
Coach: Rod MacQueen
(16)
Liam said | December 28th 2009 @ 8:39am | Report comment
Harrison shouldn’t be anywhere near the team. The thing that got him to places was his lineout steal in 2001 verse the Lions. Since then he was just a liability getting yellow carded or penalised because he couldn’t keep his temper.
Hoy said | December 28th 2009 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Good team, I agree with most, but one thing I would say is that I am not sure Jason Little should be in this team. Great during the 90’s but from about 98 onwards, it was Dan Herbert at 13 and Jason Little was on the bench for both QLD and Australia. He only made starts due to injury. Remember Herbert was the reason Little went to the dark side south of the border.
Aljay said | December 29th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
That was my thought on reading the team too. He would have made a greatest wallabies team from 89-98 but from 99 onwards he only made the field as a reserve winger. I’d slightly give Mortlock the edge over Herbert, and place Cannon before Paul on the bench.
Stash said | December 28th 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Good team and good bench.
Not much of a representation of the current crop…Mortlock couldn’t make it even as a bench warmer.
Makes the claim that “consistent success isn’t to far off” seem a bit dubious.
The Wallabies mojo is certainly on the wane – but I still think the talent is there. If its not Deans fault for a win/loss ratio that has only one direction to go for 2010 (upwards)… then it must be his support staff.
Angus Boyle said | December 28th 2009 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
Jason Little was at his best in 1992/93. To be included in a Wallabies’ team of the decade for the 2000s would be a little disappointing for Stilring Mortlock.
Bay35Pablo said | December 28th 2009 @ 7:08pm | Report comment
Giffin over Harrison.
Mortlock over Little.
Cannon over Moore.
Harry said | December 28th 2009 @ 8:23pm | Report comment
Good article and summation. I think Australian rugby is on the improve after a barren 6 or 7 years, but to really show this in 2010 we need:
- A better showing from our teams in the S14, including at least one finalist and another team to finish in the top 6.
- To win the Beldisloe. With 2 games in Australia in a best of 3 series, it IS time!
As to your team, I’d swap Mortlock for Little, Lote for Tune. No other changes in the 22.
sheek said | December 29th 2009 @ 6:15am | Report comment
Yeah, I agree with many of the comments so far.
Harrison is overrated on largely one moment – his lineout steal against Martin Johnson in the deciding 3rd Lions test of 2001. Johnson was a very tough customer, but not a renowned jumper. It should be David Giffin on the bench. Nor am I a fan of Giteau, who I consider horribly overrated.
Over the balance of their careers, I would have Little ahead of either Herbert or Mortlock any day. But for the period mentioned, Herbert is the man, ahead of Mortlock.
I also agree Brendan Cannon was the pick of the hookers for the period mentioned, perhaps shading the crafty Michael Foley. Jeremy Paul had the most natural talent, but was far too lazy. Moore is improving though.
Matt Burke was a better allround fullback than Latham, so I would have him in the starting XV.
Just a clarification, Connolly’s coaching fate wasn’t sealed by the 2007 world cup quarter-final loss. His contract was always going to expire at the end of 2007, no matter what.
A minor point – Tune was a right winger (14) & Roff a left winger (11). Tuqiri doesn’t rate as good as either of these two.
It probably isn’t pleasant mentioning that the Wallabies’ great run from 1998-2002 cut against the grain of their traditional so-so record. In recent times, we’ve returned to our “traditional” up & down, yo-yo record.
Which is why I constantly argue a change to our domestic structures which might hopefully bring consistent success more often.
sheek said | December 29th 2009 @ 7:50am | Report comment
Just a clarification re Burke vs Latham.
Whether you go with the allround competent (Burke) or impact specialist (Latham) is often a fine line. For example, in the best Wallaby teams I have seen (since 1970), I would go with impact specialists (Ella & Loane) over allround competents like McLean, Lynagh, Larkham, Tuynman, Gavin & Kefu.
Although I concede that Larkham, like Ella, was also more of an impact specialist.
It is of course, a judgement call, based largely on the style of game & type of players you prefer.
Nick said | December 29th 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
Sheek,
throughly enjoyed your comments in both responses. The debate continues!; Harrison just pips Giffen for his lineout prowess. Giffen himself was an oustanding forward and a favourite of mine. It was hard to leave him out for Harrison but Harrison just ahead for mine. If your were selecting it on personality the Giffen everday of the week!
Giteau is overated but still an excellent footballer. He just pipped Chris Whitaker in my book. I am huge fan of Brendan Cannon however I think Moore and Paul have/had more skill, but none tougher than Cannon. Another hard one to leave out.
The Little/Herbert/Mortlock debate is a hard one. I acknowledge Little was at the end of his powers in 1999-2000 however for mind he overall just pips out Herbie and although I am a fan of Mortlock as a player, I am not as a skipper or ‘team memeber’. Latho just over Burkey andother 51/49 call. Must be the Queenslander in me! However I agree with your analysis that M. Burke was as safe as houses and was an underated attacking force for mind though latho had the ‘X’ factor.
As for impact; well i still think Mark Ella is our greatest 10 and Mark Loane our greatest 8.
Frank O'Keeffe said | December 29th 2009 @ 9:19pm | Report comment
Sheek,
I like your perspective – ie. describing players as either all-round players or impact specialists.
stillmissit said | December 30th 2009 @ 7:54am | Report comment
Good article and I agree with most of what you say. Jones was a nightmare in my book and the main reason we are in the pooh! John Connelly was just holding the door for the next coach to arrive and we probably missed his best.
I am FORCED to agree with your selection of Gregan as there was nobody else who got a run but Giteau has real talent guys and although he is a horses as a 5/8 he is a very good player and I would have him in my starting team as halfback. Gregan should be sent to where he belongs in history.
Finnigan is a bit of a worry for me, I think Rocky is vastly superior player to Owen and would make my starting team.
David Giffin on the bench agreed, but I do like a bit of mongrel in the second row and Justin Harrison would just miss out.
Disagree with all of you re Mortlock and he would be in my starting team, great impact (thanks Sheek) player and very solid in defence and to top it off was a great kicker earlier in his career. One of the gutsiest players I have seen in terms of serious injury and getting back on the horse. Talking about that Tune is the best winger I have ever seen in a Wallabies jersey.
I’m stuffed in the props as I want to include McKenzie but cant remember whether 1 is tight head or 3 and what position Ewan played, I think he was a tighthead. Cannon or Moore dont care they are both excellent hookers.
Lets hope we look back on this last 10 years as reaching one of the lowest points in Australian rugby and we move up from here.
Wavell Wakefield said | December 30th 2009 @ 8:08am | Report comment
McKenzie was 3, stillmissit, and highly regarded in the UK – as were Kearns and Daly.
Completely agree about Mortlock. Herbert was the prototype modern 13 but played in a back division par excellence: Tune, Horan, Burke, Larkham, Little, Roff et al, and despite being an excellent player was never the go-to-guy that Mortlock has been.
I don’t think the past decade has been that bad by any stretch of the imagination. Bearing in mind resources etc Australia has won just as many 3N tournaments as SA and the Lions series of 01, not to mention the 03 WC final appearance. Perhaps the past five years haven’t been great but then SA has experienced a peak (albeit an erratic one) since 07, and NZ produced an epic side during the middle part of the decade.
Frank O'Keeffe said | December 30th 2009 @ 5:57pm | Report comment
Sheek’s description of players like Ella as more ‘impact players’ has made me think how weird an all-time Australian side would be if you only selected ‘all-round’ players. There’d be no Campese, Ella, Larkham, Latham, and I think the side would be weakerthan if you picked it with a sprinkle of impact players.
Look at this backline: 9. Catchpole, 10. Lynagh, 11. Moon, 12. Horan, 13. Allen, Tune, Burke. Pretty awesome backline but it feels like it’s lacking genius to me. Proof that you need some flaws in your side, because you can’t be a genius without flaws.
Wavell Wakefield said | December 30th 2009 @ 10:31pm | Report comment
Dan Carter = genius.
Tim Horan hada bit of the genius about him too.
Stu said | January 7th 2010 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
Certainly shows that the halcion days are over only 5 or the current crop in the 22.