1981/82 Wallabies were the Almost Greats

Greg, I am happy to let you have the last word here on Ella & McLean..... amen!

KO: what about Terblanche? He had an outstanding S14 at FB for the Sharks, but seems to be paying an excessive price for one gaffe against NSW, which Wayne Smith of The Australian reported on as follows: "Until he took an airswing at the ball in a curiously lazy attempt to kick it into touch, gifting Waratahs winger Peter Playford the match-sealing try, Sharks fullback Stefan Terblanche had played close to the perfect game." It's true that Terblanche is 34, but this is the same age as Percy was last year when the Boks didn't seem to have any problem with selecting him. Sheek: re McLean and Ella, get out your videos of both and show them to your wife and daughter. They will very quickly tell you that one is in a different league to the other. A problem with rugby is that it's so technical that one can often lose sight of the wood for the trees if one spends too much time looking at the game from the inside. Nothing against McLean, who was very accomplished. But there is a big difference between being very smart and being a genius.

Mr. Russell, Steyn and Fourie have played 15, and with Ludik and Kirchner injured there are no viable alternatives.

Greg, Paul McLean had an outstanding tour in 1975/76 when he scored 154 points in 18 tour matches. This was made up of 2 tries, 22 conversions & 35 penalties. I don't know his percentage conversion rate, but he obviously had a good tour. At the time of typing, I don't know McLean's overall stats from 1981/82. But to answer your question, he knew the British & Irish conditions from his previous tour, & I would be surprised if the balls had changed significantly in 6 years. Regrettably, McLean simply lost his 'mojo' at a most inopportune time for the Wallabies. And to confirm Murphy's Law, perhaps the harder he tried to get himself out of the rut, the deeper he fell into it! Another possible factor is, that the 1981/82 season was quite wet, certainly wetter than 1975/76. Contrast this to 1984. Lynagh kicked waywardly early in the tour, so Jones temporarily relieved him of kicking duties, which probably allowed him to relax & rediscover his touch. Not so for McLean. Although there were other kickers available, he was seen far & above as the number one. As far as kicking around the corner was concerned, this kicking style would have been just as prevalent in 1975/76 as in 1981/82, when the practice was already well established in the Misty Isles. You know Greg, I will always pick Mark Ella as my first-choice flyhalf (until someone better comes along in my lifetime) but McLean is incredibly underrated. He really gives nothing much away by comparison to Ella, Lynagh or Larkham, who all had more opportunities presented to them to shine. I personally found the McLean-Ella rivalry very difficult to fathom, as I was a huge fan of both.

Sheek - what is the world coming to, I found myself thinking of your article at home last night! My thought was as follows: what do you know about the rugby balls used on the 1981 tour? I feel this is very relevant to McLean's goalkicking - if the balls were quite different to what he was used to in Australia, then that would explain all his (costly) penalty misses. McLean was one of the last of the toe-pokers, whereas I'm pretty sure that round-the-corner was well entrenched in the British Isles by 1981. So I wonder whether the balls on tour were more suitable for a style of kicking that McLean did not practice? Re Lazio's “Receiving kicks is now the biggest possession platform in the game": when the first test teams for the year were announced some weeks ago, I commented on the fact that choosing wingers who also play FB had become all the rage (Turner, Mitchell, Jane, Wulf all played FB in S14 this year). Sivivatu always plays wing but he does so more as a FB (i.e., a kick-returner and broken-field runner) than as a classical winger (i.e., a finisher). Tuqiri's inability in this regard is probably the major reason for his demise as a player. Curiously, South Africa buck this trend, not having a specialist FB in their squad. Really JP Pietersen is their only wing/FB, cf. Aust and NZ. What is it that people often say about Peter de Villiers being the opposition's greatest weapon in playing South Africa?

Sheek - I'm sure you were just as depressed as I was when I read Chris Barclay's fine rundown on the ABs 5/8 choices for Saturday - depressed because of what Wayne Smith said: “Receiving kicks is now the biggest possession platform in the game - bigger than the lineouts and the scrums." Smithy's right, alas. And I hate it and you hate it. And so should anybody else who saw the '84 Wallabies back in the days of sensible rules, one-set scrums and running off the set pieces to score. In them days, the game was played on the ground, not in the air. In fact, I recall Mark Ella saying, "If any of the backs kick the ball away, I give them a good talking to." And I remember what Allan Jones said in '84 when opposing teams would kick the ball long: "Why anybody would kick to Roger, one of the best fullbacks in the world, is beyond me." Here's a Post-it note for the Wallaby refrigerator - Don't kick the ball to Mils because he may just run it back down your throat. And Cory Jane's no patsy either. Go the Ws, but with ball in hand.

You're right, Sheek. Typo. I did indeed mean Daly aka Gibraltar or whatever his nickname was.

Well, I wouldn't say caught out Sheek! All matters of opinion after all. I have to confess that I only vaguely remember there was a replayed GF around then, and I'm not sure if I went to either of them. That I was probably licking psychological wounds from losing the U19 GF that year (possibly the day before the first of those GF's?) may account for the blanks! Certainly do remember that those Brothers and Uni sides were very very strong - and of course the internationals played half the games, and all the finals. I do remember Keith Besomo, but sadly only because of his deafness. I know you've got a lot of time for David Hillhouse - he was always a bit of a frustration to a Qld follower. He'd play very well for a year or two then head off again. On other locks, I recall someone saying that one of Alan Jones' major contributions to Australian rugby was insisting on putting giants on the field, instead of using more athletic types. I guess it helped that blokes like Cutler and Campbell were hitting their mid-twenties by 84, Williams was hitting his peak and that the others you mention (and Damian Frawley) were available during his tenure. Looking back the selections for 81 are at best puzzling. I guess at the time the Qld attitude to Ella was still that McLean was a better bet, and there was probably a view that you could get the same benefit from O'Connor by putting him on the wing allowing you to add in the different qualities Slack brought to the table (which he showed in 84 wasn't a totally ridiculous idea). Plainly with the Qld coach and the I suspect very strong influence of Shaw and Loane there, that thinking won through. Greg, with respect, I think "interstate politics" is a bit simplistic - Qld preference for doing it the way that had been highly successful for Qld, quite possibly.

I remember watching a NSW v Queensland game at Ballymore - the one where Michael O'Connor and others in the backline did a handstand rather than catch the pass. Queensland was ahead at the time and went on to lose the game partly because of that. I cannot ever forgive O'Connor for going to league. Seems to me that he always follows the cash. From union to league, from St George to Manly, from league back to union. Can't blame him, but can't respect him like, say, Tim Horan who, in pre-professional days, resisted huge offers to join the Crushers. Talking of Roger Gould reminds me of his field goal against France for Queensland at Ballymore. It was an angled shot from the 10 yard line - in our half! The sunny afternoon internationals and interstate games at Ballymore are confined to my distant fond memories. Bring back Ballymore and you will discover a resurgent Queensland.

Thanks Greg, Although even in those days, you had a neutral ref in that the Irish reffed the English test, the English the Welsh test, the Welsh the Scottish tests, & the Scottish the Irish test, or similar. But yeah, all the refs were from Britain & Ireland. Watching the Scottish test on TV back home, Randwick coach Bob Dwyer contacted Ella & demanded to know why he was standing so deep, instead of in the faces of the opposition. Ella replied the conditions didn't allow for flat-line attack, although Dwyer suspected the 'Qld mafia' had got to Ella. Which he says was a major motivation for challenging for the coaching gig in 1982. But all the flaws of the team would have been academic if McLean kicked his goals, & the tight forwards were just a bit more influential.

Sheek - very simple answer: rampant interstate politics. Tempo was well meaning but he was in no position to leave senior Qlders out and to meld a side from the best of NSW and Qld. In a sense this tour was just Australia functioning as the British and Irish Lions. The other thing one should not forget is that referees in those days were not neutral, and nor were pitches what they are today. The heavy grounds of midwinter Britain were hardly conducive for a potentially brilliant Australian backline to realise its potential. It didn't, not by a long way. Of course it was not helped by poorly performing forwards ... as you say, it's absurd that Steve Williams sat on the sideline for so much of the tour ... which gets my back to me starting point.

JohnB, To answer an earlier question about locks, there was a guy in Sydney named Keith Besomo who was treated abominably by the selectors. He was a massive hulk of a guy, but almost totally deaf. he toured France in 1976, NZ in 1978 & Fiji in 1980, but played his only test in 1979. He was chosen for the tour of Argentina 1979, but failed to beat a suspension for being sent off in a club match. The issues surrounding the sendoff was farcical. He had continued to play on (after ref blew whistle) due to his deafness, & barreled an opponent. But the authorities had no sympathy. The Wallabies could have used his size & bulk circa 1978-82. The other guy who you would know is David Hillhouse. Not especially tall, but a freakish lineout jumper, & tremendously mobile around the paddock. Strangely, by 1984, Australian rugby had all this tall timber running around - Williams, Cutler, Campbell, Holt, Fitzsimons, McCall. But only Williams was around from this group in 1981.

BTW, I'm glad we have another O'Connor who might play many tests for the Wallabies into the future. Michael O'Connor was lost to Australian rugby too soon, defecting to league at the end of 1982 after just 12 paltry tests, aged only 22. His league career was equally glittering, & a constant reminder of what might have been had he remained in union.

JohnB, Aha, caught out! Go the Western Districts bulldogs. On the latter part of your paragraph, this is the conundrum. Templeton had seen first hand the success of the Ella-Hawker-O'Connor midfield combo. They 3 of them played together just 4 times in the 10, 12, 13 jerseys, & only 6 times altogether (the other two times, O'Connor & Hawker once each on the wings). In the 10, 12, 13 positions they won 3 of 4 tests. And it took a brilliant length of the field try by the ABs to beat them 2nd test 1980. So why was the test combo broken up when the team arrived in Britain? Complicating matters is that back in 1980, Queensland beat the ABs with McLean, Slack & Gould in their backline, while NSW (with all 3 Ellas) lost to the ABs, although Sydney drew with ABs. The point is, it was difficult to draw an absolute conclusion back then. Tempo went with the Queenslanders because they were also dominating the interstate games, which I guess is fair enough. But agreed, with the benefit of hindsight, why would you not go with Ella-Hawker-O'Connor, when available. On another matter, & perhaps we discussed this when I posted it last year (I think), you must have been around in 1979 when Uni & Brothers drew the first GF 24-all (incl. extra-time), & the 2nd went to the last minute of extra-time before Uni prevailed 16-13.

Sheek - probably should disclose that I played at the same club as Pilecki and Gould in the late 70s, early 80s (and Gould was back dominating club games in the second half of 81), so saw a lot of them and my opinions are no doubt tainted correspondingly! You're quite right that Paul McLean was a very very good player but it is a bit hard to believe that you wouldn't have put Ella/Hawker/O'Connor on the field every time you could.

KO, You meant Tony Daly, not Tony D'Arcy. D'Arcy was a great loss to the Wallabies, defecting to league at then end of 1982, aged just 24. Re a comparision between McIntyre-Lawton-Rodriguez vs McKenzie-Kearns-Daly, it's fair to say McKenzie was slightly superior to McIntyre, while Rodriguez was considerably superior to Daly. There's not much to choose between Lawton & Kearns, who were entirely different hookers. Lawton was an outstanding scrum technician, & an excellent lineout thrower. Kearns was extremely aggressive, energetic & mobile, playing like a 4th backrower. McKenzie-Kearns-Daly were very consistent 1990-94 before beginning to unravel in 1995. McIntyre-Lawton-Rodriguez were outstanding 1984-86 before unravelling themselves form 1987 onwards. Who was better? On odd days, I might pick one lot, & on even days the other lot, there's not much in it.

JohnB, Pilecki was 31 when chosen for his test debut in 1878. He had been in & out of the Queensland team since 1970. The Pole was a bit bitter that some of his best years were behind him when he finally gained Wallaby selection. But he made up for it, gaining a tour berth in 1984 at age 37! My argument about picking putting McLean at fullback ahead of Gould is based on 1981 form. Gould had missed the French tests through injury, & it wasn't until the following year that he rose to his since acclaimed greatness. Paul McLean was a very fine player, much better than people give him credit for. He was of course, entirely different to Ella, but in comparison to his Qld successor - Michael Lynagh - there's very little to choose between. Except that Noddy had the opportunity to go & achieve a lot more. It's an absolute shame that back in 1981-82, you didn't have the 22 man squad system so prevalent today. A lot of the angst back then involving Ella-McLean-Gould would otherwise have been dissipated. Ditto Loane-Poidevin-Cornelsen-Shaw in the backrow.

Lazlo, Thanks. I loved Shawry as a totally committed player, although he had his limitations. Yes, Hippy suffered rib damage in that game. The thing about the tight five is that they had held their own reasonably well against the French, & also the ABs the year before. But they were totally lacking on that tour, failing to adjust to the softer grounds. Thank God the poms don't have the final say on what constitutes a great player. I would have Ella any day ahead of Wilkinson, Andrew, etc.

Sheek, most of that tour has been consigned to the "bad memories - not to be revisited" draw in the mental filing cabinet - about all I can remember is Shaw hitting Cuthbertson, right in front of the ref, in one of the dumbest things I've seen on a footy field. You're right that (strong and tough though he was) he was never an international lock. Hard to believe that he would even be considered there really. Mind you, while I don't know the situation in Sydney, I know that there just weren't any really big blokes running around in Brisbane club footy at the time. Nowadays, Duncan Hall and Mick Mathers would be blindside flankers, and Peter "Spider" McLean would be told to go away and put on 15 kgs. Some other vague memories/comments - I remember Steve Finnane quoting Stan Pilecki saying when he was first picked against Wales in 1977 that he'd been a better prop years earlier but the selectors hadn't wanted to know. He was still strong at club and state level in 81, but getting long in the tooth. Have to quibble at the idea of picking McLean (or anyone) at fullback ahead of Roger Gould, if Gould was fit which I think he mostly would have been. And unfortunately Bob Templeton was, rather than is, a great bloke (he died a few years back). You're right that international coaching wasn't where he made his mark (introducing and applying the Ray Williams squad coaching system to Qld with great success was - something that worked brilliantly when he turned the Qld team into a virtual club side).

D'Arcy, Kearns and McKenzie was pretty strong.