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Michael Cheika’s Wallabies are on well on track to win a record third Rugby World Cup. But on the way there’s a hidden bonus.
Having beaten England 33-13 and Wales 15-6 in the pool games, the Wallabies face Scotland in the quarter-finals. If Australia wins, they will face either Ireland or Argentina in the semi-finals.
Ireland should defeat Argentina in their quarter-final, meaning if the Wallabies defeat the men in green in the semi-final, that’s a win over all four home unions in the one tournament.
That being the case it will be mighty hard for rugby historians to deny these Wallabies Grand Slam status.
Alan Jones’ 1984 Wallabies are the only grand slammers with victories over all four home nations.
They beat England 19-3, scoring three tries to nil, Ireland 16-9, scoring a try to nil, Wales 28-9, scoring four tries to one, and finally Scotland 37-12, scoring four tries to nil.
That was for a total of 12 tries to one.
The team:
1. Topo Rodriguez
2. Tommy Lawton Jr
3. Andy McIntyre
4. Steve Williams
5. Steve Cutler
6. Simon Poidevin
7. Steve Tuynman
8. David Codey
9. Nick Farr-Jones
10. Mark Ella
11. Peter Grigg
12. Michael Lynagh
13. Andy Slack (c)
14. David Campese
15. Roger Gould
Matthew Burke played on the wing, and Roar expert Chris Roche as flanker against Ireland, while Brendan Moon was on the wing against England.
The tour highlight was Mark Ella creating an all-time record by scoring a try in each of the four grand slam victories.
The first grand slam tour in 1947-48 was captained by the baby of the team – 19-year-old outside centre Trevor Allan – after tour captain Bill McLean broke his leg in an early game.
They very nearly grand slammed, too.
They beat Scotland 16-7, scoring four tries to nil, and defeated Ireland 16-3, again scoring four tries to nil. They then lost to Wales 6-0 in a penalty shootout, and beat England 11-0, scoring three tries to nil.
That was for a total of 11 tries to nil for a perfect defensive performance.
The team:
1. Nick Shehadie
2. Ken Kearney
3. Eric Tweedale
4. Joe Kraeft
5. Graeme Cook
6. Doug Keller
7. Arthur Buchan
8. Col Windon
9. Cyril Burke
10. Neville Emery
11. John McBride
12. Alan Walker
13. Trevor Allan (c)
14. Arthur Tonkin
15. Brian Piper
The team was away for eight months, playing 39 games, travelling to the UK and back by ship, and were paid two shillings and six pence (2/6 or 25 cents) a day.
Kearney switched to league in 1948 and captained then coached the mighty St George during their 11 straight rugby league premierships, and captained the Kangaroos during his 31 Tests as a dual international.
Allan switched in 1950 to play four seasons with Leigh in England, to set himself up financially for life.
Walker also toured South Africa in 1949-50 as a left-arm fast bowler, but didn’t play a Test with Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller in control.
Emery finished up being the senior master at Shore Preparatory School under headmaster Jika Travers, who played for England against the Wallabies on that tour.
Emery’s son Phil was head prefect at Shore in 1982, as well as being captain of cricket and rugby.
Neville always wanted to be a Test cricketer, but ended up a Wallabies player – Phil wanted to be a Wallaby and ended up a Test and ODI cricketer.
Shehadie went on to be knighted, the only Wallaby to receive the honour, as was Sir Donald Bradman the only Australian cricketer to be knighted.
But that’s all in the past as the Grand Slam hopes of this Wallabies team makes this World Cup even more interesting, and more rewarding.