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In my opinion the best ever team to be put on the field in Australian rugby history was the side selected to play England on the Grand Slam tour.
15. Roger Gould
What can I say. One morning I will wake up and say Matt Burke was the best ever fullback, the next morning I’ll say Gould. And so on. Big man, big skills, big talent.
14. David Campese
Mercurial winger, famed for the ‘goosestep’ sidestep. Excitement machine. Really needs no introduction.
13. Andy Slack
Captain of the team and much better than people think. Underplayed his hand, but had wonderful all round skills.
12. Mike Lynagh
Only his second Test at this time. Went onto glittering career as playmaker and goalkicker. In top three or four flyhalfs.
11. Brendan Moon
Broke his arm in this Test and out for rest of tour. One of the best four or five wingers to represent Australia.
10. Mark Ella
If you had to pick one guy to show how rugby could be played to its maximum potential, Ella would be your man. Scored a try in each of the four internationals.
9. Nick Farr-Jones
On debut in this match. Went on to become one of our best ever scrumhalfs.
8. Steve Tuynman
Just his third Test. A schoolboy sensation who went onto excellent senior career. Had all the skills, but perhaps lacked some mongrel.
7. Simon Poidevin
Yet another legend. Outstanding flanker who could play both sides of scrum. Heart of the team with his committed, never say die attitude.
6. David Codey
Second Test. Aggressive tight-loose backrower who gave the Wallabies extra choice of options in lineout as well as in general play.
5. Steve Cutler
Born for the moment when “giraffes” were required because of the ‘no lifting’ edict. Supreme lineout jumper, but he was much more than a one-trick pony.
4. Steve Williams
Hard working, 80 minutes playing lock who complemented Cutler, and was the forward leader.
3. Andy McIntyre
One of our best ever tight heads. Went about his business without fuss and held his own in the bowels of the scrum.
2. Tom Lawton
In his early days had it all: size, strength, skills, mobility, technique, nous. Lawton, Kearns, Lawton, Kearns. Not much in it.
1. Topo Rodriguez
“Cometh the hour, cometh the man”. What he did to lift Aussie forward play goes beyond the playing pitch. Would have to be one of the greatest sporting emigrants to our country.
Bench
22. Peter Grigg
Pips the other Matt Burke (b.1964) for the outside back position. Whole hearted winger.
21. Mike Hawker
Says something about the depth of the Aussie backline that he couldn’t make the starting seven. Wonderful all round skills, gutsy and clever player.
20. Phil Cox
Played the domestic Tests against the All Blacks before being bumped. Ella said he felt most comfortable playing with Cox.
19. Chris Roche
Awesome fetcher and scavenger. But lack of size and height was his downfall. Totally committed team player.
18. Ross Reynolds
Like Tuynman, had the full package of height, size, skills and mobility, but probably lacked sufficient mongrel.
17. Cameron Lillicrap
Only 21 at the time, but considered an awesome loosehead prop prospect. Unfortunately, untimely injuries stunted his career.
16. Mark McBain
Unfortunately, like Roche, it was a case of the good little man losing out to the good big man. In his case, Lawton.
In a perfect world, it would have been great to consider the following, who were all capable by age and ability to be part of this grand adventure and the 22 man squad.
Mick O’Connor
Centre/Wing. Australian Rugby really missed his breathtaking play, but he had defected to league. I would have played him at 13, moving Slack to 12, and Lynagh to the bench. Could also kick goals.
Mark Loane
Eightman. Dr Loane, who would have just turned 30 in 1984, often told Alan Jones he retired too early. Although a folk hero in Queensland as captain of the State team, I would have retained Slack as skipper.
David Hillhouse
Lock. Gave up a lot of Test rugby to train as a commercial jet pilot. Had freakish jumping skills, outreaching taller opponents and had a marvellous all round game.
Tony D’Arcy
Prop. His decision to defect to league was ill-advised, as he was totally unsuited to the game. Like Topo, could play both sides of scrum, and was a brute of a man, naturally strong. Had he still been around in 1984, would he have kept Topo out?
The result of the Grand Slam internationals was as follows: England, won 19-3; Ireland, won 16-9; Wales, won 28-9; Scotland, won 37-12; (Barbarians, won 37-30).
Those were the days!
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