Time to remember the great Wallaby sides

With all respect, Tuynman was the no 8 in all 4 tests .Lynagh and Slack were the centre three quarters, the wing three quarter positions were shared by Campese [ 4 tests], Moon [one], Burke [ one] , Grigg two. Farr- Jones and MG Ella were 9 and 10. [ four games] One of coach Alan Jones's quotes is worth repeating. " This myth, this nonsense about breakaways getting to the breakdown , it's absolute rubbish. The break down has to be won by the person nearest the ball. Every back has to have the same skills as a back rower, " What he was trying to say was it is pointless playing an expansive game, shifting the ball wide, and expect the breakaway to be there to maul the ball. The 1984 Wallabies breakdowns were won by the backs, and finished off by no.8 [ Tuynman] and Co.

No we do not.

The nearest one, I think, is something called 'Stuff NZ'. I've had a look at it a few times...............it has to be read to be believed.

he was talking about the greatest Wallabies team tiger so settle down.

Roll over and lay dead mate, why don't you. The Wallabies team to Enzed in 82 had lost about half of the team that had tamed the AB's in the previous couple of years and a young inexperienced team went on to win 1 of 3 in a tight series and nearly all of their tour matches against a AB side that you note were in a 'golden era' ?

Just a question - do you Kiwis have a similar forum such as the Roar ?

agreed

And personally I would have said mine might be more close to the bone than nasty. Because it is a constant theme you hear endlessly when rugby is talked about in Australia. "Rugby now is boring, it was better before *insert law change* (ignoring every reason why it was changed and how it would work in a professional game). "Why don't they play running rugby, like the good old days"...completely ignoring what that was, how it actually works and why it worked back then "He's OK, but he's nothing compared to Ella"...'cos his game was flawless and would undoubtedly open up the modern ABs like a can opener Etc, etc, endlessly.... It comes through in coaching, from commentary and unremittingly from the supporters. And it is boring, it is inherently negative, and it sets the tone for how the game is perceived. Rugby is the old guy on a porch, rug around his knees, asking for the fiftieth time this week whether he has told you about his one moment of glory in his twenties.

I'll offer some counterpoints for debate: a) Moore has done pretty well for a number of years, but his decline is apparent (at least to me) only this year. I remember his appointment as captain being widely acknowledged as a good choice. b) in beefing up the scrum, have the Wallabies sacrificed the line-out? Most fans were pretty happy to see our scrum pushing others around at the end of last year...our current stocks seem to allow one or the other, not both.... c)...which then feeds into the back-row options. When Hooper was named captain following Moore's injury, in my rugby circles the question was whether he would hold his place when Poey recovered. I think the same question is still being asked. So perhaps Fardy needs some help in the line outs.

There is nothing nasty about my post.It is merely an observation of Welsh rugby,they tend to live too much in the past,and it is holding them back as a rugby nation.Simple as that.

Tuynman scored the pushover try against Wales at the Arms Park. He helped Campo score a great try against Scotland but did not score one himself in that particular test. Fantastic player though.

Andy, Michael, Mick and Richard, you guys must be really proud of those posts. Typical, indicative and exposing. The sheer nastiness is astounding. Go tell your grandma.

Well, where to start ! Nostalgia is great, who can forget the close WB - AB tests where the decision came down to the last 2 minutes or the last kick? There seems to have been so many fantastic moments where one party or the other was elated/dejected about the result but everyone was on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. What a fantastic rivalry. As a Kiwi growing up i always loved watching the Mark Ella magic show and the Roger Gould booming boot but I also dreaded it every time Ella touched the ball. Great moments. It is a great rivalry but it is a pity that some on this site seem to be intent on dragging the game and the rivalry into the mud through accusations of cheating/ref bias and other rubbish. Man up I say, take the win , glory in it. But if you lose, stand up and accept that you weren't good enough. (Well that is what I have to do every time the Force lose :) ). The fact is, every time the front row is anywhere near the ball they are cheating. Accept it, that is what props do (well all the one I know anyway). And half backs and loose forwards - I can't remember the last time one was on side. It's a great part of the game. Without it we wouldn't need refs and then who would we complain about ? Seriously, the fact is that no team, even the AB' has it all their own way all the time. Every team has occasional rebuilding phases. The trick is to recognise when it is necessary, take a few risks, try some new talent and accept that in the short term you might lose. The great joy is when against the odds, the young fellas come up trumps against a team that on paper should have beaten them. This was one of the strengths of Australian rugby in the past. The ability to spot young talent, nurture it and then to pick the right moment to select it (him) in the team with solid and experienced support surrounding him. This is what seems to have been lost today. Australia has some excellent players that aren't being properly considered by Cheeks and his team. Probably because they don't want to lose. But if you don't take a chance you can't win over the long term. WB's need to get rid of the Giteau rule except in world cup years. The in between years should be about finding and growing talent. The WC years should be about putting the best team on the paddock no matter what or where it is. Play the best specialist player in the country for each position. Yes, some of them will be untried and yes some of them will fail. But some of them will surprise you and that moment, that will be a moment to remember.

Knowing and critical analysis is fine, rolling around in it and playing starry-eyed "remember when" is just self-indulgent escapism. Sadly Australian rugby frequently confuses the latter for the former, top to bottom.

Knowing about history is passé really. Reflecting on it is such a waste of time.

Correct. Big Bird scored a fantastic try in that match.

The main point is that the All Blacks will always (in the foreseeable future) be the yardstick of world excellence, and if the Wallabies keeping losing to them (especially badly) they will continue to disappoint and be criticised. The problem is that the WBs persist with pedestrian, predictable tactics while the ABs have developed an amazing array of sophisticated precision moves which they adapt as required to the circumstances throughout any given game. Might be a product of the Kiwi character. When NZ still had a Skyhawk fighter squadron, they regularly outsmarted the Yanks and the Aussies in war games despite their ancient planes. Made a lot of money for the country too, training other air forces before they were sadly disbanded - but politicians will be politicians. The WBs have to keep trying to develop and incorporate equivalent or better smarts in their rugby.

The one of 1979 win needs to put in context of the 30 - 18 defat of the ABs at Eden park in 78 and the 2-1 series win in 1980. It was more than a one off game but the 1986 team deserves recognition too for sure.

And Dave Brockoff. The Wallabies would be no-ones whipping boys when he was coach. The 1975 Ballymore test against the Poms. Pure gold!

That was definitely a great team with so many newcomers and it was our first glimpse of the enigmatic Campo. That was a great series and that 1978 - 86 period was a golden one for Oz rugby..