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Stephen Larkham, former Wallabies fly-half and now the backs and attack coach of the men-in-gold, has made two quotes of interest this week.
The first was that All Blacks Dan Cater is the best fly-half of all-time, the second was that the current Wallabies are better than the last two Wallabies squads to make the World Cup finals in 1999 and 2003.
The latter is a quote Larkham is in prime position to make as he was, and is, an integral part of all three deciders.
But let’s look at Dan Carter first.
It would have been more accurate for Larkham to rate Carter as the best fly-half he has ever seen, as Mark Ella and Phil Hawthorne, in that order, were even better.
Larkham wasn’t even born when Hawthorne strode the international scene from 1962 to 1967 playing 21 Tests before switching to rugby league with St George to become a dual international.
Hawthorne’s superb natural ability was enhanced by playing alongside the greatest half-back of all-time, Ken Catchpole, who dominated international rugby from 1961 to 1968 in 27 Tests. All Black Colin Meads ended the little champion’s stellar career by walking away with Catchpole’s leg while the other leg was caught in a ruck, ripping Catchpole in half from the groin to his neck.
Meads wasn’t even penalised for what was the most disgraceful act I’ve ever seen.
Larkham was only six years old when Ella started his domination of 25 Tests from 1980 to 1984, retiring at just 25 years of age, having scored a try in each of the Wallabies’ historic Grand Slam successes.
Mercurial Mark was phenomenal, everything he ever did on the rugby field was instinctive and intuitive, constantly breaking what looked like Fort Knox defence.
Carter’s good, damn good, as he will prove again in the World Cup decider, but Larkham’s quote needed to be clarified.
His second quote brings up very interesting comparisons.
If the current Wallabies World Cup finalists are better than their 1999 and 2003 counterparts as Larkham suggests, how many would make the combined side of the three?
To jog the memory, here are the 1999 and 2003 Wallabies sides:
1 – Richard Harry – Bill Young
2 – Michael Foley – Brendan Cannon
3 – Andrew Blades – Al Baxter
4 – David Giffin – Justin Harrison
5 – John Eales (c) – Nathan Sharpe
6 – Matt Cockbain – George Smith
7 – David Wilson – Phil Waugh
8 – Toutai Kefu – David Lyons
9 – George Gregan – Gregan (c)
10 – Stephan Larkham – Larkham
11 – Joe Roff – Lote Tuqiri
12 – Tim Horan – Elton Flatley
13 – Dan Herbert – Stirling Mortlock
14 – Ben Tune – Wendell Sailor
15 – Matt Burke – Mat Rogers
The front row of the combined 1999, 2003, and 2015 sides would go to the current trio.
1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Kane Douglas
5. John Eales, captain of the 1999 side
6. George Smith of the 1999 side
7. Michael Hooper
8. David Pocock
9. George Gregan of the 1999 side (Will Genia’s better than 2003 Gregan)
10. Stephen Larkham of the 1999 and 2003 sides.
11. Lote Tuqiri from 2003 just pips Joe Roff of 1999
12. Tim Horan from 1999
13. Stirling Mortlock from 2003
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Matt Burke as the combined side’s goal-kicker.
That’s just seven of the current side, but that combined line-up would be magnificent to watch.
Having said that, the Wallabies on Sunday morning AEDT will be thrilling to watch as well.