Who are the winning-est Wallabies of all-time?

Roar Guru

27th July, 2011

2855 Reads

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Roar Guru

27th July, 2011

2855 Reads

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

George Gregan has played in more winning test teams than any other Wallaby. This is understandable since he has also played many more tests than any other Wallaby. But who is the winningest Wallaby of all time, based on percentage of wins compared to total tests played?

Gregan has played in 93 winning teams from 139 tests, followed by Steve Larkham (68 from 102), David Campese (67 from 101), John Eales (66 from 86) & George Smith (65 from 110).

Perhaps the winningest Wallaby of all, based on a minimum of 25 tests, might surprise some fellow Roarers.

Here is a list of the leading 20 winningest Wallabies (min. 25 tests). Records to the end of 2010.

1. Jason Little, 77.33% (58/75)

2. John Eales, 76.74% (66/86)

3. Ewen McKenzie, 76.47% (39/51)

4. David Wilson, 75.95% (60/79)

5. Tony Daly, 75.61% (31/41)

6. Andrew Blades, 75.00% (24/32)

7 eq. Dan Herbert, 74.63% (50/67)

7 eq. Phil Kearns, 74.63% (50/67)

9. Tim Horan, 73.75% (59/80)

10. Dan Crowley, 73.68% (28/38)

11. Willie Ofahengaue, 73.17% (30/41)

12. Matt Cockbain, 73.01% (46/63)

13. Richard Harry, 72.97% (27/37)

14. Rod McCall, 72.50% (29/41)

15. Peter Grigg, 72.00% (18/25)

16. Nathan Grey, 71.43% (25/35)

17. Joe Roff, 70.93% (61/86)

18 eq. Michael Lynagh, 70.83 (51/72)

18 eq. Jeremey Paul, 70.83% (51/72)

20. David Lyons, 70.45% (31/44)

It’s instructive to note that five of the winningest Wallabies are props (all from 1989-2000).

A staggering 13 out of 20 are forwards (65%), lending weight to the old adage that “forwards win matches, while backs merely determine the margin of victory”. And the presence of 5 props (plus 2 hookers) demonstrates the essential importance of working off a solid foundation at the coal-face.

So who are winningest Wallabies per position. Let’s have a look, again using a minimum of 25 test appearances.

15. Matthew Burke, 67.90% and Chris Latham, 64.10%

14. Peter Grigg, 72.00% and Ben Tune, 65.22%

13. Jason Little, 77.33% and Dan Herbert, 74.63%

12. Tim Horan, 73.75% and Nathan Grey, 71.43%

11. Joe Roff 70.93% and David Campese, 66.34%

10. Michael Lynagh, 70.83% and Steve Larkham, 66.67%

9. George Gregan, 66.91% and Nick Farr-Jones, 66.67%

8. David Lyons, 70.45% and Toutai Kefu, 66.67%

7. David Wilson, 75.95% and Simon Poidevin, 62.71%

6. Willie Ofahengaue, 73.17% and Matt Cockbain, 73.01%

5. John Eales, 76.74% and Justin Harrison, 64.71%

4. Rod McCall, 72.50% and David Giffin 70.00%

3. Ewen McKenzie, 76.47% and Andrew Blades, 75.00%

2. Phil Kearns, 74.63% and Jeremy Paul, 70.83%

1. Tony Daly, 75.61% and Richard Harry, 72.97%

Most of these players cover the 1991 and 1999 world cup winning teams. But what about the 1984 grand slammers?

The winning percentages are lower for these players, which is partly reflected by the fact that it was only around this time that the Wallabies began to develop consistent forward dominance.

Roger Gould (56.00%), Campese (66.34%), Andrew Slack (61.54%), Lynagh (70.83%), Brendan Moon (57.14%), Mark Ella (52.00%), Farr-Jones (66.67%), Steve Tuynman (61.76%), Poidevin (62.71%), David Codey (66.67%), Steve Cutler (57.50%), Steve Williams (60.71%), Andy McIntyre (57.89%), Tom Lawton jnr (58.54%), Topo Rodriguez (69.23%).

So we come to the present. If coach Robbie Deans could select a 22 man squad, with everyone fit and available, what might that team be? And what are their current winning percentages per player?

I’ve included a couple of old-timers on the bench for perspective. Records to the end of 2010. Let’s have a look.

Kurtley Beale (64.29%), James O’Connor (50.00%), Digby Ioane (63.63%), Berrick Barnes (67.74%), Drew Mitchell (50.00%), Quade Cooper (66.67%), Will Genia (36.36%), Wycliff Palu (57.14%), David Pocock (53.33%), Rocky Elsom (56.25%), Dan Vickerman (62.96%), James Horwill (54.17%), Ben Alexander (62.50%), Tatafu Polota-Nau (60.00%), Benn Robinson (51.22%).

Bench: Adam Ashley-Cooper (56.82%), Matt Giteau (54.84%), Luke Burgess (62.50%), Scott Higginbotham (50.00%), Nathan Sharpe (58.06%), Al Baxter (57.97%), Steve Moore (57.40%).

Many of this team are still in the formative stages of their careers. However, it is already evident that the playmakers are leaving their mark. Barnes has the winningest percentage of current Wallabies, with 67.74%.

He is followed by Cooper and Beale. Conversely, and oddly, Will Genia is the only player of this squad with a less than 50% winning record (36.36%). I’m sure this will improve.

Nevertheless, for this Wallabies team to progress from good to great, the forwards, especially the ‘tight 5’, will have to impose themselves far more dramatically than they have at present.

Make of this what you will.

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