Chris Beck writes: After listening to the Dan Herbert interview earlier today on The Roar, I tracked down the Wallaby lineup that was sent onto the field for the final of the 1999 Rugby World Cup. That got me thinking: who would I put onto the field out of all the Wallabies I’ve watched over the years?
Some caveats are in order. I’m an American who’s never played a bit of rugby in my life. I’ve followed the sport since about 1999 or so, and have adopted the ACT Brumbies as my favorite team, probably because they’ve had the most consistent success in the Super 12/14 over that timespan. Following rugby here in the US, where the sport is in a complete shambles at the national level, has become more difficult in the last two years since regular TV coverage has effectively ceased.
Given all those constraints, this is who I’d send onto the field.
Front row: Bill Young, Jeremy Paul, Patricio Noriega. I know Young was severely criticized toward the tail end of his career, but I always liked him for his craftiness.
Paul at his best was excellent, and I choose him over Michael Foley, of whom I have little recollection.
Noriega seemed to be the most legitimate international-caliber #3 I could remember watching, although Rodney Blake may get there someday.
Locks: John Eales, Dan Vickerman. Eales is obvious, anyone knows that. I choose Vickerman over David Giffin since I think he makes a bigger impact.
Nathan Sharpe is not selected because I think he doesn’t contribute as much as I think he’s capable of, and Justin Harrison misses out because, well, he’s too much of a hothead.
Back row: Owen Finegan, George Smith, Toutai Kefu. Every team needs an antagonist, and Finegan fits the bill as a menacing defender and runner of the ball. I rate Smith much more highly than Phil Waugh, and frankly I prefer Smith
over Richie McCaw because I think he’s got a broader all-around game. Kefu gets in because he’s the best and most consistent ball-runner of the #8s that I’ve seen.
Halves: George Gregan, Stephan Larkham. I agree with criticism of Gregan’s passing, but he’s here for his leadership and defense. Larkham has always been my personal favorite to watch – he plays differently than anyone else, I love his vision with the ball and his style of play, and you can throw in the excellent defense. I wish he’d not been injured so much over his career, and I wish he wasn’t heading overseas.
Centers: Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock. Giteau because of the talent and unpredictability, Mortlock because he can crash the ball up and defend stoutly.
Matt Burke and Daniel Herbert are other options here. I don’t recall much of Tim Horan, who I suspect most people would pick at #12.
Wings: Joe Roff, Ben Tune. No refugees from league in my fifteen. I loved watching Roff, who possessed wonderful rugby instincts and made everything look easy. Why Eddie Jones preferred Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri over Roff in the
2003 World Cup is totally beyond me. Tune, when not injured, was a terrific finisher to place on the other side of the field.
Fullback: Chris Latham. The hardest call, over Burke. Latham has superior one-on-one abilities. It is hard to go wrong either way here – this is my team and Latham gets the spot purely on personal preference.
Bench: Picking the starting front row was hard, so the backups aren’t any easier. I go with Brendan Cannon and Ben Darwin. My other forwards are Mark Chisholm and Matt Cockbain, each of whom can play two or more positions and
provide for a strong lineout.
Halves: Chris Whitaker is the next best scrum-half after Gregan, and Elton Flatley had the unfortunate luck to play behind Larkham all those years. Burke gets the center/wing/fullback bench spot.
swifty
Guest
Matty, I thought Jim Williams was fantastic. Unbelievable strength. I'll also throw in the name Garrick Morgan for the hell of it. On the few occassions I saw him he was an absolute giant amongst boys. Most people only remember his foolishness with the Crushers but he was a tough lock and the perfect partner for John Eales. Troy Cocker is probably a couple of rungs behind but another angry ant that spilled out of the Queensland forward factory around that time. Cocker could play lock and in the backrow.
matty
Guest
Chris - if you liked Jim Williams' pick and drive with the Brumbies, you should have seen him in his hayday - he used to play on the wing for Warringah (before someone said "oy, you're a biggun, get into the scrum!"), and was a damaging runner in the Jonah Lomu style. Great fun to watch. Noriega was a shadow of his former self by the period we are talking about. If you get a chance, take a look at some footage of him for Argentina in the 95 RWC - he was indomitable. I think he was the official player of the tournament. Jools - where does your little fan club get together in CT? I am based in Stamford/Darien. I get all the games on Setanta but generally prefer to watch good games the first time in the appropriate atmosphere (pub) if it's on. Cheers.
jools-usa
Guest
To: Chris Nice piece from a guy who didn't go from high-chair to the pitch. In reward, if you'e ever near Fairfield County. CT., share a jar with my bunch of critics: Two Kiwis (insufferable), one 'Bok, two Poms (recently talking more soccer than rugby), and 2 OZ. Everyone has a different angle, AND opinion, but it's fun - even sometimes @ 2:30am. Gotta watch it live! Cheers Jools-USA
Chris Beck
Guest
sheek has it about right. My team is basically guys from 2000 and on, who played at least a couple of years in that span, with something of a Brumbies bias thrown in only because (a) they were good right around that time and (b) two of my three favorites played there (Larkham and Roff). Noriega and Darwin were my two foremost #3s. I have no argument with Darwin, I thought it was tough that he had to retire. Horan I am aware of, but I don't recall actually watching the 1999 World Cup. So that means I probably started watching the sport in 2000. Anyway, by 2000 Horan was sort of drifting off the stage that I had a view of, so he never formed an impression in my mind. Eales I do remember distinctly, he played just a little bit longer than Horan, I remember him kicking that penalty agains the All Blacks in 2001, so he makes it into my 15. Someone mentioned Jim Williams - I recall the tail end of his time at the Brumbies. He's probably how I figured out what the term "pick and drive" meant. Concerning Burke and Latham, as I originally said, that was my toughest call. I didn't agonize over it, but I did sit here and think about it for at least three minutes before going for Latham. Hey, personal choice, right?
matty
Guest
How can you say you didn't see much of Horan if you started watching rugby in 1999? He dominated the entire 99 world cup to the point where it launched him into most peoples' "all time best XV". The advent of Bill Young coincided with our constant embarassment at scrum time. It never happened in Richard Harry's day. Harry was the man. You are dead right about Finnegan. Matt Cockbain tried to fill that role but never with the same effect. Otherwise, a pretty fine selection for the time period you have chosen.
sheek
Guest
Dave74, I forgot Ray Price. Hmmm, real dilemma there. I would say put him in my 1st XV, Smith drops back to 2nd XV, Wilson to bench, Tony Shaw drops out. In backs, on reflection, would put Latham in for Paul McLean. Some of your other selections, especially in the backs, are bewildering. Joking.....I'm sure! But hey, everyone's entitled to their opinion. Armchair Sportsfan, The problem of course, is that you can only select so many players at any one time.
Dave74
Guest
I have watched rugby since the mid 80s but have seen a few games from the 70s from time to time on FOX. 1. Topo - monster of a prop, every team needs one 2. Foley (not as glamerous as most of our hookers who spend too much time playing wing - did his job and did it well) 3. McKenzie 4. Dan Vickerman (if he is injured before the WC this year we are in deep kak - our only WC tight forward at the moment) 5. John Eales 6. SImon Poideven 7. Ray Price (would surprise most but watched him in a game v England from the early 70s and he was everywhere, had excellent handling skills to boot) 8. Greg Cornelson 9. Nick Farr-Jones 10. Mark Ella 11. David Campese 12. Tim Horan 13. Andrew Slack (it would be great to have a centre who could set up his support players like he could again) 14. Rob Egerton (didn't need to pull his socks up with the amount of work he did on the field - needed to with carry Campo's workload so he could do all the magic things he did. Also the try he scored by leaping over Kirwin to take a bomb in the first Bledisloe game in '91 has stayed in my memory, magnificent chase and play all round) 15. Glen Ella (Burke was a great defensive fullback but I prefer attacking players and Latham is too much of a ball hog for mine).
Armchair Sportsfan
Guest
Sheek - despite all the possible variables I can't help but largely agree with your 1970-current day 1st and 2nd XV's Perhaps a few of the following players coud feel hard done by (even for a bench spot) - but clearly a matter of optinion: Sergeant Slaughter McCall Richard Harry Marty Roebuck (although the competition at fullback is intense) Owen Finegan Marco Caputo Mitch Hardy ...perhaps I jest with those last two......
sheek
Guest
Alex, Actually Tommy 'Turtle' Lawton was quite mobile in his first one or two years as a Wallaby!!! And did you know his grandfather Tom Lawton senior was one of our greatest ever flyhalfs? Tommy senior, who played just 14 tests between 1921-32 (in between studying & business, etc) was the Larkham of his day - solid, robust, outstanding in everything he did. For fullback you meant Glen Ella, not Gary (centre). Hell, I love the Ellas, but only Mark reached the exceptional at test level. More than anything, I would love to see some spontaneity return to the Wallabies. Honestly, we haven't seen it since Campo in his prime. Only in smaller doses from Joe Roff, Andrew Walker & Chris Latham.
Alex
Guest
Sheek thankyou for selecing Tom "Im really a flying winger " Lawton , what a player that charisma talent , well it made up for his lack of speed around the park and allways a joy to see him in the middle of a backline moove. I am unsure why anyone would select a Richard Harry but that is a personal thing, old prop syndrome and all that . For me Topo is a mandatory selection as his intidation around the scrum and the breakdown was the stuff of legend. No Gary Ella at fullback anywhere? Is it just me or do we secretly hope that we can re-discover this kind of quality pack somewhere in Australia , so that once again we will have a world class pack .
sheek
Guest
Chris, A wonderful effort! I appreciate this is basically a team from 1999. Let's call it the team of the 200s (to date). With that in mind, you're very close to the mark. Noriega was indeed a very good technical prop, but I can't recall him playing in the 2000s. Ben Darwin, an excellent technician, would be my tight-head. Young was indeed crafty. Brendan Cannon would be my hooker. Not as naturally athletic as Paul, but unconquerable in spirit. Rest of the forwards & all backs pick themselves (from 2000). I've been following the game since about 1970, so considering all the players to have appeared 1970-2007, I would pick the following Wallaby 1st & 2nd XVs. 1st XV (starting at prop): Topo Rodriguez, Phil Kearns, Ewen McKenzie, Dan Vickerman, John Eales(c), Simon Poidevin, George Smith, Mark Loane, John Hipwell(vc), Mark Ella, Brendan Moon, Tim Horan, Mick O'Connor, David Campese, Matt Burke. 2nd XV (starting at prop): Dan Crowley, Tom Lawton, Andy McIntyre, Steve Williams, Steve Cutler, Willie Ofahengaue, David Wilson(vc), Tim Gavin, Nick Farr-Jones(c), Steve Larkham, Joe Roff, Michael Lynagh, Jason Little, Ben Tune, Roger Gould. Note Lynagh chosen at inside centre for 2nd XV. A further reserve bench of 7 players: Bill Ross (hooker), Tony D'Arcy (prop), Tony Shaw (lock/flanker), Greg Cornelsen (backrow), George Gregan (scrumhalf), Peter McLean (flyhalf/fullback), Dan Herbert (outside backs). Chris, I hope this helps you some with the history of Australian rugby. Many of these guys can be found on 'sporting-heroes.net'.
Stu
Guest
What about Little, David Wilson, Phil Kearns, Big Jim Williams, Andrew Blades and Richard Harry? BTW IMHO Burke and Horan are manadatory selections. My nightmare Wallaby team would have Julian Huxley at Fullback, Sam Norton Knight on the field and Micheal O'Connor as a selector.