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!
Dublin Dave
Guest
Sheek, Not like you to get a historical fact wrong, Sheek. Old age must be catching up with you :) Think you'll find that Errol Tobias won his first Test cap playing at home against the touring Irish in 1981. I certainly remember him playing in the first test.
Michael R.
Guest
Hi Sheek, The 1974 TKS pack would have been the smallest & lightest in years - but they were all very athletic - with one of the 2nd rowers later winning the GPS 800m. But yes, they were very well drilled - with Jones coaching most of them since the Under 15A's. And Kings had 7 in the GPS 1st's - the hooker, both flankers, both 2nd row, half-back & 5/8. And a TKS winger came on as a replacement. So 8 at end of game. Joeys had both props, the No. 8 and fullback. But centres were from Newington & Shore - I think. I remember them being big guys - and not seeming to know Jones's attacking patterns. And of course it is the 1974 40th anniversary this year.
sheek
Roar Guru
Gary, Thanks for your thoughts, especially on Slack. I've read articles where wingers who played outside Slacky absolutely loved him. Especially his Qld team mates Moon & Grigg. Slacky was absolutely selfless in feeding his wingers with good ball & space to move. I think he is under-estimated. I know I'm inclined to under-estimate his talents.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Thank you Sheek for a great post, it bought back all those memories of when I really loved watching the Wallabies play rugby. NF Jones was and still is my favourite SH, I'm not saying he was the best I've seen in technical skill but I loved his muscle around the rucks he became that extra forward when they needed it. Andrew Slack was a beautifully balanced player that played the game only as good as he had to. He never seemed to overexert himself. This obviously was a perception by people watching for the sideline. I watched him play club rugby and while he was great he never seemed to stand out he was the ultimate team player. I also met him and talked to him when he was a young bloke and he struck me as slack by name and nature meaning that he didn't seem to have a care. With his long hair a scruffy beard he looked for all like the proverbial beatnik. But in all that he was a great captain. Steve Tuynman, David Codey and sky lab were great in the forwards. I could go on and on and wax lyrical about them all but suffice to say it was a great team, my thanks to you for the memory.
Dublin Dave
Guest
...and looking for another one next week :D
Justin3
Guest
Great article sheik, a fabulous team. The pack was immense, like a rock at scrum time. If only we had that now! NFJ was stolen at playing the sort side and he produced those beautiful inside passes in the tackle
Harry Jones
Expert
Cheers Sheek! Great team that! Rob Louw was my favourite WP player in those days; mobile, fierce competitor, smart player.
Johnno
Guest
Micheal 2001 was a 2-match series anyway, we won, 1998 was the only year we won 3-zip. But the fact is the AB'S 1998-2002 side, was far more competitive than the Wallabies 2003-14 sides that have lost the Bledisloe to the AB'S. 1999 AB'S beat the aussies at Eden park in the 2-match series 2000 AB'S won in sydney 2001 AB's lost on the bell at Sydney 2002 aussies won 2 hard fought games 12-6, and 16-14 I always thought the 199 AB'S were underrated, and don't forget we won the RWC in 99, avoiding the AB'S, who had a top backline. AB'S were favourites at the 99 World cup not us. Playing the AB'S in the final would have been a tough match.
sheek
Guest
Michael, How can I be sorry? I don't care you have another viewpoint. I'm just sorry for you. ;-)
Bill Larkin
Guest
My brother followed the 1984 Wallabies through the UK, and I actually saw him on TV freezing behind the goal posts in Scotland. A great team. Pity about the coach.....
Johnno
Guest
Buzzard not very NSW centric are you mate lol You left out the NSW Blues SOO hatrick 92-94 champion sides And of course the mother of all victories, almost stuff-ups the 2014 Tahs, under cheika. P.S (Thanks Ritchie Mccaw we owe you lol)
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
Ella responsed to ridiculous pieces like m essa in the Australian today.
Adsa
Guest
Johnno Poidevan and Miller were two go hard flankers, I remember a Ballymore interstate game and they were at each other all game. The Ref called them out just as they were about to scrap at the back of a line out and gave them a talking and at the end said 'so are we now finished?', Miller said no, Poido agreed he wasn't finished either and they trotted back to the line out . Thanks Sheek 84 was the year I really started to follow rugby, we watched Gordon Brays rugby show on Sunday arvos in the boarding house, all of us were rapped about the Welsh pushover try, Alec Evans was our sports master and we were filled with pride.
Johnno
Guest
Sheek TKS really ramped up the volume under Alan Jones, he was ahead of his time in some ways in schoolboy rugby. He brought in new programs, and advanced training methods and tactics not seen before in schoolboy rugby in OZ. White Oval is rarely a happy hunting ground for away teams, I know the feeling it's a lonely journey out on Parramatta Rd, then rocking up with no fans there, and a parochial crowd, worse back then as people in Sydney were more waspish than today, and there burrow was there burrow not much travel around the sydney metro back then.Joeys the machine as usual and back then. CAS V GPS battles used to be the big rep game on the calander was always exciting. Good memories sheek in Australian rugby, in a bygone era that's past by, amaterusism now overtaken by professionalism. Well if there is some solace Gordon Bray is still commentating wallaby games 30 years on, the games past him by, but his enthusiasm is still as strong as ever.
Johnno
Guest
And in all this,Tim Gavin missed out on a 1991 World Cup win, which I regard as a tradgedy in Australian rugby, he was awseome then and a cruel blow, the boy from Scot' College,a vintage GPS school as we know. He got injured in the 1991 shute shield grand final from memory, a game where Tony Daly was put on the bench didn't get picked yet still was the incumbent wallaby prop and played in the 91 final, heck scored a try in it. And Troy Coker won a world cup medal, haveing a blinder at no 8 in the semi vs NZ, leaving out a very unlucky Jeff Miller on the bench, 3 didn't go into 2, and some say Poidevan was lucky to play in the final ahead of Jeff Miller, some say state politics which is part and parcel of Australian rugby. Bob Dwyer going for Randwick boy and NSW player Poidevan over Queenslander Jeff Miller.
AussieinNZ
Guest
What sticks in my mind about the 84 side was the planning and the discipline. They would put the other side to the sword from the start with some great set moves and then shut them out at the back end. The current squad could take note.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Was talking in general johnB. Guys like Sella, Esteve, Lagisquet, berbizier, codorniou etc were all around 80kgs or less. Completely different body to the guys we see now. Still am pretty sure guys like Farr-Jones, Ella or Campo were around 80kgs at the beginning of their career. Things started changing towards the end of the 80s as it was the beginning of the modern era but early-mid 80s, although I was only a kid, I still have the impression most backs were around 80kgs. no worries though.
sheek
Roar Guru
Errol Tobias was the first black player to represent the Boks, touring NZ in 1981 & making his test debut in 1982 (I think). Tobias did it tough. Plenty of the Afrikaaner Boks apparently resented his presence. There's a train of thought that Tobias was so much better than Botha, especially at running the ball. But we'll never know for sure. He simply didn't get enough opportunity, making his Bok debut past 30.
JohnB
Guest
Not many of that Australian backline would have been 75 - 80 kg. Farr Jones was bigger, Ella maybe was only that, Lynagh was stockier than he looked but may have been around that at that time, Slack more like 85, Moon was an athletic 90 odd (in the reserves Hawker and Grigg similar, Matt Burke stockier and maybe about the same), Campese at that time 85 or so, and Gould easily 95. Some of their opponents may have been only that size.
formerflanker
Guest
Thanks Sheek. Loved to think back......and hope for further glory in 2014/15!