Last year, some friends and I settled in at the Oaks in Neutral Bay preparing to watch a Tri-Nations match over a few lagers. There we sat, the repartee flowing back and forth, and the schooners of sponsors product lubricating the collective tonsils to monumental feats of rugby recall.
Every second story began with “Remember when…” or “What about…” in the same way that a family does, sitting around a dinner table at home after the grown-up kids have been away a while. Everyone just enjoying being together, and sharing good old times.
After a schooner which could have been the third or the sixth, a young Irish tourist approached the table, dressed in the uniform of a 3 Minute Angel. (For the uninitiated, the Angels give short massages right where you sit.
Mostly corporate gigs, but sometimes they turn up in pubs when they suspect that the patrons might have had a hard day.)
One of my mates took the opportunity to triple his pleasure and add a 5 minute massage to his beer and rugger natter, so the Irish Angel began kneading away as the nostalgia broke into the 1990s.
As you’d expect, the first story that sprang to life was the iconic image of Gordon Hamilton scoring against Australia in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
At the words “Remember Gordon Hamilton?”, a beatific smile crept across the Irish Angel’s face and she listened quietly as the story was recounted.
The Australians were leading 15-12 courtesy of two David Campese four-point tries, as they packed into a scrum thirty metres out from the Irish line. Ireland won their own feed.
The ball went from half Bradley to flyhalf Keyes, whose kicking display had kept his team in the match. Keyes shifted to Mullin who in turn passed to fullback Jim Staples. Staples looked as though he would be shepherded towards touch by the defence, before he put through a beautifully weighted grubber kick for his winger Jack Clarke to chase.
As Clarke jostled with David Campese and the clock ticked down, Gordon Hamilton had left the scrum and run forward in front of his backline on a diagonal, forward line towards where Australian fullback Marty Roebuck was patrolling the wide open spaces at the rear of the field.
In the scuffle with Clarke, Campese lost his footing and Clarke scooped up the ball only to be grabbed in a desperate tackle around one ankle by Roebuck. Clarke stood in Roebuck’s grasp, frantically looking for support, when his openside flanker Hamilton roared into view.
In a second the flow of the game changed.
The Australians had propped when Roebuck tackled Clarke, but then Hamilton forced the match into top gear once more as he sprinted into space. Campese desperately threw himself up from the ground to give chase, but Hamilton’s initial burst carried him into the clear on the Australian ten metre line.
Campese, to his credit, was up and charging from the blocks like an Olympic sprinter in the second that Hamilton was handed the ball by Clarke, who put it into his hands like a postman delivering a parcel.
But Hamilton was sprinting for all of Ireland and even Campese couldn’t make an impression in the footrace.
Australia’s last desperate chance of saving the try came through winger Bob Egerton, who had started his chase from a position only metres behind the initial scrum.
As the scrum packed, Egerton could be seen walking up level with Peter Slattery to defend the blindside – Slattery had earlier replaced the injured Nick Farr-Jones.
As the move unfolded, Egerton started corner flagging. “Almost lazily at first” he says now, “but it got more urgent as the move unfolded, and when Hamilton broke I realised I’d have to do some work if I was going to catch him”.
About halfway across, as Staples kicked and then was swept up the tackle of Little, Egerton skipped slightly, perhaps expecting the move to break down and Campese or Roebuck to clean up. “There was a moment” says Egerton “Where I hesitated. I’m not sure why, perhaps just one of those moments when I thought the game was going to unfold differently”.
After Egerton’s stutter, Hamilton roared into the clear and Egerton, on the 10 metre line, put the hammer down and chased to save the match for Australia. At that point there were only three players left in the match – Campese, Hamilton and Egerton.
Egerton dashed past referee Jim Fleming. Hamilton crossed the Australian 22-metre line, racing on, head forward, arms pumping impossibly hard towards certain glory. Campese chased to the 22-metre mark, but then, seeing he was making no ground, left the chase to Egerton.
And then there were two.
Hamilton, like the 54,000 in the stands, held his breath and tracked the last metres to the tryline. Egerton arrived five metres out and hit the big flanker hard, grabbing at his legs and hauling backwards like a man hauling a piano up a cliff on a rope.
As his legs were chopped sideways, Hamilton fell forward, and his momentum did the rest. Egerton rolled and spun on the wet grass, finishing face down near the corner post. Try to Ireland, and the lead, 16-15.
A snapshot of the moment shows the two exhausted Australians, Campese and Egerton, in shock. Campese has his back to the scene, bending over, with his hands on his thighs.
Egerton is still down, on his hands and knees, and is unaware that he is being berated by a pudgy Irish spectator in a bright red jacket, who is on the field, standing over him and roaring in triumph. Irish backs Clarke and Brendan Mullin have arrived and are embracing Hamilton – Clarke takes the ball and tosses it gaily in the air like a handful of confetti.
Egerton remembers now “I’ve seen on the footage, this guy giving it to me. This spectator who was standing over me having a few words to say.
But in the moment, I don’t remember it at all.
I was still down and looking at the ground, getting my breath, and he was only there a moment anyway. But also the noise was phenomenal, you couldn’t hear a thing. The crowd had gone ballistic, they just couldn’t believe it”
“I’ve never really listened to captains speak much, and even then after that try I was just walking around at the back, getting my head back on the job. We heard Noddy ask the ref how much time, and when he said 6 or 7 minutes, we knew we had time, that it wasn’t just one more play type of thing’.
“But the pressure was on. We had to make some split second decisions and get them absolutely right. We had to decide how much we wanted to be there too, because if we lost, it was a plane home the very next day”.
“In the end, the move we used for Noddy’s try to win it, was a move we had already used that day for Campo to score. Bob Dwyer had told us before the game that this move would work against Ireland, and it did. There was a bit of obstruction, but we got over, and the amazing thing was the silence. The crowd just went from euphoria to total misery in seconds. It was just so quiet”.
Did people remember Egerton as part of the try? Had ever met Hamilton again? He hadn’t ever met Hamilton, but he said several people remember the try. “I’m a teacher” he says, “so the kids don’t mind reminding me about it. Hey you missed that guy who scored in the 1991 World Cup!”.
“A few years ago I had dinner with a mate in Dublin, and he took me out the back of the pub we were in and there was a big photo of Hamilton going over for the try with me clutching at his legs. Apparently there is an even bigger one on the wall of the jacks in a pub down in Donnybrook somewhere, so yeah” he laughs, “I’m big in Ireland!”.
It’s doubtful that there will ever be another moment like it in Australia Ireland test matches, and despite it taking place almost twenty years ago, it is remembered all over the rugby world.
Even just last year it was being remembered by a nondescript group of rugby followers in a pub on the North Shore in Sydney, as one of them had his daily worries smoothed away by a delightful young Irish 3-Minute Angel with a knowing smile on her lips.
“Of course you love that story” said one of the lads. “You’re Irish”. The smile grew wider. “Well its true, I am Irish” she said “But it’s important to me personally too”. “Important to you personally?” asked the massage recipient. “Why’s that?”.
“Well” she answered “Gordon Hamilton’s my uncle. My mother’s brother”.
Our collective roar turned heads the length of the bar. “Noooo waaaaayyy!!!!! Really????”, but it soon became clear that she was telling the truth. Eventually we settled down and I asked “So, do people still remember your uncle Gordon in Ireland?”.
“Oh yes” she said proudly.
“They still cross the road to shake his hand some of them”
Richard Smith
Guest
Well I am pleased to say that I have met and spent several hours with Gordon Hamilton on a flight from Bangkok to Sydney the day before RWC03 started in Sydney. We discussed many things, including Ireland's chances in the impending competition, and of course that try in 1991. Gordon said that he was also catching up with a few 'mates' like Campo, Poido and Kearnsy for a charity race, which I am not sure actually panned out. The funny thing is that when I recounted this story to my Irish boss at work the next week, he promptly told me that he was related to GH also, which leads me to believe that all Irish claim that heritage!!! This story is a very descriptive and highly romantic recount of the day the Ireland almost knocked us out of the RWC, as are most Irish yarns worth any salt. I have to also say that my old school mate Adrian MacDonald was on the sideline that day ready to take the field in the event that NFJ was injured, one of the few Wallabies who have never actually played. WHat has happened to those days? Now I feel old!!
Andrew Logan
Guest
Gents, A quick postscript to this forgotten article. I just received an email from a mate who was at Lords watching the cricket today. He was sitting one row behind Gordon Hamilton, who had seen this piece and confirmed that his niece was in Australia at the time. All wrapped up nicely! Cheers...
Dublin Dave
Guest
How come I missed this post when it first came out? I have bitter sweet memories from that match. Living in exile at the time I watched it on TV at my home in England. I remember the match started with a major fist fight right at the kick off when it seemed that Phil Matthews the one time Irish skipper introduced himself to Willie Ofahengaue with a sharp right hook, an event that sparked a 15 on 15 brawl. Not to be condoned of course, but I also seem to remember that having let off steam right at the word go, the game was impeccably clean from then on. Australia looked to be running away with it but could never pull clear. It wasn't only Ralph Keyes' kicking. My memory is that Ireland had a lot of the ball and tried to use their backs but sadly we were missing our usual left winger Keith Crossan who had a serious turn of pace and so he was replaced by Jack Clarke who, to paraphase Captain Blackadder, had all the pace of an asthmatic ant with some heavy shopping. Several times he was put into space but just didn't have the pace to capitalise. The only good thing he ever did in an Irish shirt was follow up that kick from Staples and then pop the pass up to Hamilton for that try. My memory, which might be flawed by the violent mood swings engendered by that game, is that I performed a backward somersault out of my sofa when Hamilton scored and I am not, nor have ever been, any sort of gymnast. Sadly it all went to pot a few minutes later when Clarke again showed his inadequacies (clearly visible on the Youtube clip cited) by first of all missing a tackle on Campese and then trying to stop Lynagh by tickling him under the armpits instead of driving him backwards. Wycliff Palu he sure wasn't! Couple of things: 1) That match was the high point of the 1990s for Irish rugby (yes it was only 1991 but things went down rapidly after that) and I suspect it was partly responsible. A TV documentary made many years later showed clearly the desperate effect it had on leading Irish players such as Neil Francis who still hadn't got over it many years later. In fact I heard from a friend who played golf with Phil Matthews about a decade after the match that when asked for his most enduring rugby memory said "I'll never forgive Rob Saunders" a reference to the Irish scrum half who failed to make touch from the restart thus gifting Australia field position in the Irish 22 from which they worked Lynagh's try. 2) What is it with the nieces of Irish rugby legends and bloody Australians? Sheek has mentioned elsewhere the legendary uncle of the Irish girl his brother married and now Gordon Hamilton's niece is massaging Australian press men for a living???? What is the world coming to? :)
RollingMaul
Guest
Gave me goosebumps - still remember watching it live! Both my parents are Irish.. I've got duel citizenship with both Irish and Aussie passport so I can never really loose in that situation but when it comes to a WC I have be an Aussie. I was 18yo during the 91 world cup and was leaving school and choosing which club to play for. I was invited to a dinner at Eastwood Rugby the day before they flew out and they sat me next to Marty Roebuck for the function and he was an absolute gentleman.. what a great guy! He signed a world cup touring program for me and the club gave me $50 to spend on drinks.. a big thing back then when the most you could hope for was a free beer at the end of a match. I guess its my age but I still remember this WC as my favourite and this as the best match of the tournament.
DaniE
Guest
One of the most amazing moments ever in international rugby. I was only 11 at the time but stayed up to watch, and got addicted to rugby during that game. OldManEmu, speaking of which, that game also had another Tongan throwing punches at an Irishman... when the Irish captain decided to punch Willie O on the side of the head before the ball even touched the ground from the kick-off, and Willie O retaliated. Very wierd. And then to have NFJ come off after 15 minutes! And yet still for the Wallabies to prevail showed that they had the mettle to win.
Brett McKay
Expert
Loges, have finally got around to watching the YouTube clip - wow, what a run, what a try!!
Andrew Logan
Guest
OME - that would be Trevor Brennan. Definitely came off second-best. PS "regale us with"...or..."revel in"?
Andrew Logan
Guest
Gee Westy that's good news. Campo is a unique character, but he has had some success at the coaching gig so he could be a good pickup for the Two Blues. Who engineered that one? How? I'm amazed that he would take a gig out west. Not disappointed at all....but surprised certainly.
OldManEmu
Guest
Hate to rain on the parade of good feelings but my favourite Wallabies v ireland moment is Totai Kefu punching out some Paddy at RWC 99 who thought he was a tough guy - albeit Kefu had to cool his heels for a week for the privilege. And older fans might regale in stories of Ollie Campbell......
TommyM
Guest
Wow, that was a piss-poor effort from Campese to give up chasing at the 22!
Lindommer
Guest
That's fantastic news, Westy. Go the TBs.
westy
Guest
Andrew the picture of David Campese prompts me to announce that he is the backline coach for the Parramatta Two Blues for next year. He is teaming up with former wallaby prop Mark Hartill as the first grade coacing team. One season does not make asummer but it is good news. Now to hold and attract players.
Bay35Pablo
Guest
Great story. I was in a pub next to the Dublin Post office in 1998 while backpacking. Took 2 Yank birds down there I had never met before that I met at my hostel, who turned out to be boring as bat sh!t, because I needed a beer. End up meeting some Irish colts, and drinking with them instead (until the Yank birds tried to leave, and the Irish blokes charmed them into staying, which led to a long night, but anyway ...). The first bloke I started talking to ended up having his old man being a mate of Bob Dwyer's (or the driver of the team bus or something), and having gone to all the games on tickets from him as a kid, and met the team. Immensely jealous!!!! The international brotherhood of the ruck. Great blokes. Great night. Although I must say, when Ireland lost to Australia in 2003 they weren't happy about it, and didn't take it as well as 1991. They didn't fire up, but you could tell they were steamed. Their team had come a long way in 12 years, and they had higher expectations. So when they looked like winning and then lost, they were p!ssed. I was there with all my mates that go to the Tahs games, and my brother in law to be (several years later). But we were in separate seats (long story). My maniac bro in law was taunting the Irish saying "Irish jerseys going cheap". I'm like "Do not get us killed. Shut up." it was the first time I had seen Irish fans so p!ssed at losing. Usually they took it in good grace. Not that time.
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Nice one Andrew...I remember having my first beer in the Oaks, Neutral Bay...I think I was about 14!! Wouldn't happen today!! Anyway, certainly no 'angels' back then. What a great coincidence the angel being a niece!! Who would have thought...anyway, here's hoping for a similar result Sunday!
Andrew Logan
Guest
Roberto...I thought of you the other day watching Brian Mannix on Spicks and Specks.....
Andrew Logan
Guest
I've got good news for you Clanscout - you're 10 years younger than you think you are!
Clanscout
Guest
Ahh, the memories, I was also at that game. Hard to believe that it was twenty eight years ago. I remember being on the East Terrace of Lansdowne Road and being in the company of many of Gordon Hamiltons then clubmates. Having the craic during the game, I was giving Hamilton an awful time of it . Bagging him out at any opportunity and then he pops up with one of the best Irish trys ever. The end of the game was heartbreaking but despite that, I skipped my cousins wedding, and fronted up at Lansdowne the next week to support my newly adopted favourite team humble the All Blacks. I think I decided that weekend that Aus was the place for me and haven't looked back since. Here's to another classic Ireland Australia encounter this weekend.
sheek
Guest
formeropenside, I'm glad you were confident. I nearly had a meltdown! I couldn't believe how such a talented team was about to exit the world cup. And when the Wallabies scored soon after, I wasn't aware of the silence at the ground, since I was making enough noise myself (I was watching alone) for about 20 people. My wife, who doesn't care for any sport, was woken up by my yelling & told me to grow up, but I still kept whoopeeing!
Robbie
Guest
Loges, At the Hawkesbury Ag B & S recovery...past out and didn't see the game...I will blame Muzza Robbie
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Sounds pretty good to me!!