- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
As I type this article on Friday afternoon, November 14, the 1984 Grand Slam Wallabies will be enjoying a wonderful 30th reunion lunch along with a gaggle of middle-aged fans.
I can just imagine everyone having a truly celebratory occasion with coach Alan Jones strutting around like a peacock, totally in his element.
I’ve written a few articles previously on The Roar regarding the 1984 Wallabies, so this is really just a token recognition of their place in Australian rugby history.
The 1970s, 1980s and even most of the ’90s are sporting periods that I can discuss off the top of my head without consulting the history books, except to clarify some finer points.
Back then I was much closer in following the action as indeed a newer generation of fans are doing today. I marvel when I read Roar articles and read fans dissect every Test or Super Rugby match, and countlessly offer up their next squad selections.
I was like that once. Like back in the ’80s!
In my time, circa 1967-68 to the present, I have witnessed three great Wallaby teams. In broad terms they were, 1984-86, 1991-93 and 1998-2001.
If the three teams were racehorses, it would probably be an almost dead-heat, with each team separated by a nose and a nose.
I would rank the three teams in their chronological order and give my preference to the 1984 side, because they had two extraordinary x-factor players, Mark Ella and David Campese.
But of course, that is purely a personal preference based on the fact I enjoyed the 1984 style of rugby most of all.
The following squad of 1984 was selected for the opening tour Test against England.
Roger Gould, David Campese, Andy Slack (c), Michael Lynagh, Brendan Moon, Mark Ella, Nick Far-Jones, Steve Tuynman, Simon Poidevin, David Codey, Steve Cutler, Steve Williams (vc), Andy McIntyre, Tom Lawton, Topo Rodriguez.
The backup squad, at least until this Test, was as follows.
James Black, Peter Grigg, Ross Hanley, Mike Hawker (c), Matt P. Burke, Tim Lane, Phil Cox, Ross Reynolds, Chris Roche (vc), Bill Calcraft, Bill Campbell, Nigel Holt, Stan Pilecki, Mark McBain, Cameron Lillicrap.
Unfortunately Brendan Moon broke his arm in this Test, putting him out of the rest of the tour. Matt Burke and Peter Grigg shared the wing duties in the remaining Tests.
Winger Ian Williams and prop Greg Burrow were called over as tour replacements following the injuries to Moon and also Cameron Lillicrap.
Coach Alan Jones made several significant changes from the Bledisloe Cup series, bringing in Nick Michael Lynagh, Farr-Jones, Steve Tuynman and David Codey for Michael Hawker, Philip Cox, Ross Reynolds and Chris Roche respectively.
The team played 18 matches for 13 wins, one draw and four losses. Clearly, the team was not as committed in non-Test matches as they were in the Tests. They scored 385 points for and conceded 232 points.
But it was in the Tests that their legend was made, defeating England 19-3, Ireland 16-9, Wales 28-9 and Scotland 37-12.
Curiously, the Wallabies took a while to get into their stride. They were held tryless in the opening half against England and only one try was scored in the Irish Test.
But they well and truly demonstrated their worth in the last two Tests against Wales and Scotland. Mark Ella, given a stable forward platform to operate from in probably the only time of his career, demonstrated his genius.
He scored a try in each Test, plus he kicked two drop goals against Ireland when the try-scoring opportunities were denied by ferocious Irish defence. No other Wallaby side before or since has been able to beat these same four nations in the same tour.
This achievement should not be underestimated, nor under-appreciated.
While both the All Blacks and Springboks made a regular habit of winning historic grand slam tours, only one Australian side has done so against these same four opponents.
And that was the 1984 Wallabies.
Just for good measure the Wallabies beat a good Barbarians side 37-30, which included two brilliant French backs, fullback Serge Blanco and scrumhalf Jerome Gallion.
A feature of the game was the sight of Campese turning Welsh utility back Robert Ackerman inside out several times before off-loading for a try.
As good as the team was, they needed to be guided by an excellent off-field support group. Jones may not have been the greatest coach in history, but he was smart enough to recognise his limitations.
Consequently, he brought Alec Evans along as assistant coach, and it was Evans’ perceptive forward strategy that laid the platform for the Wallabies success.
Jones is one of the smartest people I know. Forget about his politics, or divisiveness. You don’t get to be the most popular and most followed radio talkback host if you’re not doing the critical things right.
Jones’ genius lay in selecting the right players in their position. He made mistakes in his first series against the All Blacks, but he learnt quickly, very quickly.
By the time he got to the UK, he had resolved the problems that bedevilled the Wallabies in the BC series.
Lynagh came into the team as a recognised goal kicker. Farr-Jones brought more physicality to the scrum base. Tuynman was preferred for his greater athleticism and mobility.
Codey was brought in for his aggression, bulk and extra jumping capabilities. Although Andy Slack remained captain, Ella was given priority for calling backline moves.
Complimenting Jones and Evans were manager Chilla Wilson and doctor Syd Sugarman.
Both were apparently eccentric men of wonderful humour and empathy, complimenting the sterner pair of Jones and Evans. Wilson was himself a former Wallaby and captain from 1957-58.
Finally, as strong as this team was, it could have been even stronger, which is a frightening but delicious thought.
Powerhouse Mark Loane has apparently told Jones from time to time that he retired too early. Had Loane been around in 1984, he would have only recently turned 30 and most probably been tour captain.
The other major player missing was Mick O’Connor, the freakish centre-winger who defected to rugby league in 1983. O’Connor would have turned 24 during the tour and it is interesting to speculate who would have missed a Test spot out of either Slack or Lynagh.
Especially when acknowledging that O’Connor turned into an astonishingly good goal kicker after he defected to league. But Slacky hung around and he was the guy credited with the captaincy for the history books.
So here’s to the boys, may they enjoy their afternoon revelry and all the accolades that come their way – hail the 1984 Grand Slam Wallabies!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.