While the Wallabies eye a rare UK sweep, the starting centre pairing of Reece Hodge and Tevita Kuridrani are halfway towards matching the feats of all-time great Mark Ella’s own famous grand slam of tries.
The magnificent five-eighth scored in each of Australia’s victories over England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on that famous 1984 tour to create his own slice of history.
No Wallaby has come close to repeating the feat on any of the subsequent grand slam attempts – until now.
Hodge is proving an impressive experiment at inside centre and crossed for dashing tries against Wales and Scotland, while Kuridrani has gone one better by also scoring a spectacular effort in last Saturday’s nailbiting win over France.
Despite being on the end of two of the tries of the tour so far, Hodge backed his revitalised teammate as favourite to emulate Ella.
“I know Tevita’s got three tries in his last three matches. He’ll be pushing for that feat I think,” Hodge said on Tuesday ahead of the showdown with Ireland at Aviva Stadium on Saturday (4:30 Sunday AEDT).
Michael Cheika has made an effort to avoid addressing the possibility of Australia breaking the 32-year grand slam drought – and rising star Hodge sang from the same hymn sheet as the wily coach on Tuesday.
“But you never do it for the tries, it’s just luck of the draw how it goes in the game. We’ll see what happens,” he explained.
In his maiden season of international rugby, Hodge is quickly settling into the No.12 jersey – despite the pressure from fellow rookie Kyle Godwin, who put in an impressive debut against France on Saturday.
“You never really feel settled in the team – everyone’s always pushing each other for spots … I don’t think my spot is secure at all,” Hodge said.
“Obviously Kyle played an awesome game on the weekend and there’s always healthy competition in the backline.”
Peter
Guest
Very true. Lynagh played inside centre because Ella couldn't play anywhere except 5/8. McLean played fullback because Ella could only play 5/8. Don't recall an interstate game, when interstate games mattered, when Ella wasn't towelled up by one or the other.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Nice Ella/Campese moments... 1. Ella supports Campo against Ireland in 1984 after Campo takes out two defenders with a huge step 2. 2nd Test Argentina 1983: Ella intercepts and sends Campese racing down the sideline. Campo beats two defenders, one with the goose-step 3. Barbarians 1984: Ella picks up the ball in broken play and gives to Campese who goes ona zig-zagging run 4. Ella and Campese combine in the same Barbarians Test to give Gould a try 5. Ella cross-field-kicks to Campese on his debut 6. Ella gives Campese his fourth try against USA to equal Greg Cornelson's then record of four tries 7. Ella's amazing pick-up against England sends Campese down the sideline 8. Ella passes to Campese after Grigg intercepts against Scotland. Campo finds Tuynman and counter-attacks.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
If there's been one star of this tour, it's really been David Pocock, who has just been immense in the last two Tests. I was worried that he was putting on too much muscle and was becoming a bit slower. And his first 38 minutes against Wales were nothing to ride home about. That said, it was his first Test back following injury. But this has absolutely been Pocock's tour. I'm wondering if Australia win it what Pocock's legacy will be in Australian rugby. Ella isn't overrated one bit. As Peter FitzSimons once said, when Wally Lewis, Michael O'Connor, Michael Hawker, etc, all say he's the best player they've seen in either code and you to say, "Well these folks know a lot more about it than I do." I can't count the number of times I've watched the Grand Slam Tests, his performance against Porta in 1983, the first and third Tests of 1980, that try in the second Test of 1982 where he supported Grigg. I was thinking about writing a Roar article ranking Ella's 10 greatest moments. 1. Try v Ireland 1984 2. Link man in the greatest Wallaby try ever in 1982 3. Ella's 'round the body' pass against Haden which led to an O'Connor try 4. Ella's pick-up against England in 1984 before he sent Campese down the sideline 5. Loop play against France in 1991. He oiff-sets the cover defence with a dummy and gives to Michael O'Connor 6. 'The Wagga' - a double cut-out in the first minute of the 3rd Bledisloe Test of 1982. 7. Kicks two cross-field kicks to Brendan Moon against Argentina in 1983 8. Partnership with Campese in the 1984 Barbarians Test 9. Kicks his first two drop-goals on his non-preferred right foot 10. Improvises and kicks to Brendan Moon in the first 1984 Bledisloe Test
Stu
Guest
So true. Ella still keeps getting better and better as the mists of time close around him.
JeffR
Guest
Too late. TK has played in too many tests and he doesn't appear to be interested in drop kicking any points. And I must admit that ME is looking quite smart these days for making that decision. I bet he has not had as many knee surgeries as many of us who did not know when to stop playing.
Frank Frank
Roar Pro
Now if they could do that, and then actually kick more drop-goals than they score tries, and then retire after only 25 tests, then just run amok amongst amateurs in Sydney club rugby, and they could, just like Ella, dine out on an over-inflated reputation for the rest of their lives.