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In a recent article praising the qualities of Nick Cummins, Spiro Zavos mentioned in passing that he thought the 1991 Wallabies team was the best in our history.
Is Spiro correct in this assessment? My short answer is yes.
It is generally acknowledged that our three best Wallaby XVs were 1984, 1991 and 1999. These three teams can each be expanded to cover two years each – 1984 and ’86, 1991-92 and 1998-99 – to assess their consistency.
I have bracketed 1984 and ’86, while omitting 1985, because several key Wallabies – namely skipper Andrew Slack and winger Brendan Moon -took a sabbatical in the ‘odd’ year. The Wallabies of 1985 were hardly at full strength, as injury also robbed them of David Campese and Roger Gould at different times.
I’ll pick a key actual team from each of 1984, ’86, ’91, ’92, ’98 and ’99 before nominating my all-time selections.
1984 – Defeated England 19-3
First XV: Roger Gould, David Campese, Andrew Slack (c), Mick Lynagh, Brendan Moon, Mark Ella, Nick Farr-Jones, Steve Tuynman, Simon Poidevin, David Codey, Steve Williams (vc), Steve Cutler, Andy McIntyre, Tom Lawton, Topo Rodriguez.
Coach Alan Jones made significant changes before this Test, the first of the grand slam, by bringing in four different players from the domestic Tests – Tuynman, Codey, Farr-Jones and Lynagh respectively for Ross Reynolds, Chris Roche, Phil Cox andamp; Mike Hawker.
This was also Moon’s final Test of the year after breaking his arm. He was subsequently replaced by Matt Burke and Peter Grigg.
1986 – Defeated France 27-14
First XV: David Campese, Matt Burke, Andrew Slack (c), Mick Cook, Brendan Moon, Mick Lynagh, Nick Farr-Jones, Steve Tuynman, Simon Poidevin (vc), David Codey, Bill Campbell, Steve Cutler, Andy McIntyre, Tom Lawton, Topo Rodriguez.
With the single exception of centre Brett Papworth, who was injured, this was the strongest XV of 1986.
For the New Zealand tour, Moon, Codey and McIntyre (plus several others) declared themselves unavailable. They were replaced respectively by Grigg, Jeff Miller andMark Hartill.
1991 – Defeated England 12-6 (World Cup final)
First XV:Marty Roebuck, David Campese, Jason Little, Tim Horan, Rob Egerton, Mick Lynagh (vc), Nick Farr-Jones (c), Troy Coker, Simon Poidevin, Willie Ofahengaue, John Eales, Rod McCall, Ewen McKenzie, Phil Kearns, Tony Daly.
Apart from injured No. 8 Tim Gavin, who missed the entire World Cup, this team was at full strength.
1992 – Defeated South Africa 26-3
First XV: Marty Roebuck, David Campese, Jason Little, Tim Horan, Paul Carozza, Mick Lynagh (vc), Nick Farr-Jones (c), Tim Gavin, David Wilson, Willie Ofahengaue, John Eales, Rod McCall, Ewen McKenzie, Phil Kearns, Tony Daly.
Coach Bob Dwyer has often said that if you could combine the second half of this match with the first half of the 1991 World Cup semi-final against the All Blacks, you would have the perfect Wallabies performance.
Gavin and Ofahengaue returned in place of Sam Scott-Young and Coker, who had both been magnificent against the All Blacks.
1998 – Defeated New Zealand 19-14
First XV: Matt Burke, Ben Tune, Jason Little, Tim Horan, Joe Roff, Steve Larkham, George Gregan, Toutai Kefu, David Wilson (vc), Matt Cockbain, John Eales (c), Tom Bowman, Andrew Blades, Phil Kearns, Dan Crowley.
Apart from injured centre Dan Herbert, this was the strongest XV of 1998. The team lost nothing with Little’s inclusion.
This was only the second occasion on which the Wallabies had beaten the All Blacks in all three Tests in the one year – it hadn’t happened since 1929. Curiously, this side lost both Tests to the Springboks in 1998.
1999 – Defeated France 35-12 (World Cup final)
First XV: Matt Burke, Ben Tune, Dan Herbert, Tim Horan, Joe Roff, Steve Larkham, George Gregan (vc), Toutai Kefu, David Wilson (vc), Matt Cockbain, John Eales (c), David Giffin, Andrew Blades, Mick Foley, Richard Harry.
On this occasion the only first-choice player missing was injured hooker Phil Kearns, who missed the opportunity to join Eales, Horan and Little as dual World Cup champions. The team lost nothing with Foley’s inclusion, though.
Coach Rod MacQueen drew some criticism for his conservative game plan despite an array of backline attacking options.
Because injuries, illnesses and unavailabilities are a regular companion of high-contact football teams, I’ve tweaked my nominations for the composite squads, which show the best available team for each era.
All-time best squad – Wallabies of 1991-92
First XV: Marty Roebuck, David Campese, Jason Little, Tim Horan, Paul Carozza, Mick Lynagh (vc), Nick Farr-Jones (c), Tim Gavin, Simon Poidevin, Willie Ofahengaue, John Eales, Rod McCall, Ewen McKenzie, Phil Kearns, Tony Daly. Bench: Rob Egerton, Tony Herbert, Peter Slattery, David Williams, Troy Coker, Dan Crowley, Tom Lawton, Cameron Lillicrap. Coach: Bob Dwyer.
Lawton returned from South Africa in 1992, and was Queensland hooker and Kearns’ deputy throughout the year without getting onto the Test paddock.
The Wallabies won 16 of 18 Tests in 1991-92, a level of consistency unmatched in our entire history. Add 1993-94 and the record is 27 wins from 32 matches, again unmatched for consistency.
The 1992 Bledisloe Cup series, won 2-1 by the Wallabies, remains one of the most high-intense, high-quality series of rugby ever witnessed.
All-time second-best squad – Wallabies of 1998-99
First XV: Matt Burke, Ben Tune, Dan Herbert, Tim Horan, Joe Roff, Steve Larkham, George Gregan, Toutai Kefu, David Wilson (vc), Matt Cockbain, John Eales (c), David Giffin, Andrew Blades, Phil Kearns, Richard Harry. Bench: Jason Little, Nathan Grey, Chris Whitaker, Owen Finegan, Mark Connors, Rod Moore, Mick Foley, Dan Crowley. Coach: Rod MacQueen.
Between 1998-99, the Wallabies won 22 of 26 Tests, another exceptionally high rate of consistency. Add 2000-01 and the record is 36 wins and a draw from 47 Tests, again outstanding.
Had this exceptional team used their attacking gifts a bit more regularly, they might have claimed first place.
All-time third-best squad – Wallabies of 1984 and ’86
First XV: Roger Gould, David Campese, Andy Slack (c), Mick Lynagh, Brendan Moon, Mark Ella, Nick Farr-Jones, Steve Tuynman, Simon Poidevin, David Codey, Steve Williams (vc), Steve Cutler, Andy McIntyre, Tom Lawton, Topo Rodriguez. Bench: Matt Burke, Brett Papworth, Phil Cox, Chris Roche, Ross Reynolds, Mark Hartill, Mark McBain, Cameron Lillicrap. Coach: Alan Jones.
The 1984 Wallabies are my personal favourite team, so I can’t be accused of bias here. I guess we all feel an affinity with players who are roughly five years older or younger than ourselves, so this team is very much from my era.
In these two years, the Wallabies won 12 from 15 Tests, and 16 of 20 Tests if you take 1985 into account. The team lost the 1984 Bledisloe Cup series, which they should have won. Had Ella played beyond 1984, this team might have grabbed first place.
There is very little separating the quality and depth of all three teams, but the 1991-92 Wallabies played closest to their collective talents.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.