Ask anyone to put together a list of the greatest captains to have led the Wallabies, and the odds are Nick Farr-Jones will feature in most of them. The same goes or any list of halfbacks.
Farr-Jones’ resume is as impressive as you’ll find – he was a member of the side that captured the 1984 Grand Slam, helped Australia capture the 1986 Bledisloe Cup in a series played entirely in New Zealand, and of course was the first Wallabies captain to lift the Rugby World Cup in 1991.
Add in a four-year stint as chairman of NSW Rugby, and you’ve got one of the most respected voices in Australian rugby.
We sat down with the 1991 World Cup-winning skipper to talk about a range of issues facing rugby in Australia at the moment, starting with Michael Hooper’s appointment as Wallabies captain before the start of this year’s Rugby Championship.
“I love his commitment, his passion… I don’t know him well enough to know if he’s got some of the attributes I’ve spoken about. I hope he does. I know Cheika knows him well and I trust Cheika’s judgement to be able to single him out as someone who can be a long-term leader.”
We also touched on the state of club rugby and what Bill Pulver’s successor will have to do as the next ARU chief executive.
“What we need now is someone to galvanise, particularly community rugby,” Farr-Jones said.
“Community rugby survives largely on volunteers. Volunteers, a bit like me, are pretty down on the state of the game; the loss of participation, the increased cost of juniors to participate in the game, the competition we have against the other codes…
“We need someone who can be out there and be somewhat of a messiah.”
And, because it’s been way too long since we’ve had a Bledisloe Cup series win to cheer about, we turned back the clock to the successful 1986 tour of New Zealand to talk about the controversial second-Test loss and the subsequent victory in the third and final Test – a match that remains the last time Australia defeated the All Blacks at Eden Park.
So, sit back and enjoy our interview with Nick in the player above, and keep an eye out for the shorter segments which will be appearing on The Roar in the coming weeks.
levelheaded
Guest
What we do need is for NFJ and Poidevin to retire from publicity stunts and their ego. Well done on a stella career Gents, but sadly I have seen first hand your behaviour and commentary at Rugby functions - you need be proud, respectful and less opinionated publicly without any real, solid solutions.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Hi Daniel, Finally watched your excellent interview.....better late then never. Thank you for allowing NFJ to actually answer questions. Many interviewers jump in stupidly when it's simply not necessary. NFJ came has great passion which, when there was silence, he filled in with his wonderful knowledge. Very enjoyable.
Jock M
Guest
Farr-Jones and his ilk have been missing in action re. Rugby laws and have allowed the game to degenerate into a sham- and don't dare challenge these Prima donnas because you will receive the kind of death stare that you would expect from these types.
JB
Guest
That logic just removes quality from the analysis of opposition and individual performance, Wilson would have gotten eaten alive by McCaw, Smith Waugh Pocock are all vastly superior sevens over the ball, the fact that we happened to have Mortlock Herbert Horan and Larkham did not make Wilson a better player just made him look better because they relieved pressure, by making good decisions, strong ball carrying and committed defending. Wilson was a good player don't get me wrong but to throw him on a pedestal largely built by other great wallabies leads to bias.
elvis
Guest
You have David Wilson 2 spots short. Smith was part of the team that started not winning anything and hence was part of the problem. And he couldn't even hold his spot for Phil Waugh, a modest trundler. You have to be part of the team that wins to be a real great, unless you are so far ahead of the pack that it shows. Poido and Wilson were part of a golden era of Australian rugby, and a good part of the reason was them.
Simoc
Guest
Hoopers Australias best forward but he reminds me of Phil Waugh, another who tried so hard but when the going gets tough just gets thrown out of the way. That is a rugby problem. For some reason SA has abandoned their legendary physicality but you can bet it will be back at some stage. Big tough guys rule in rugby, it has always been. Moore was such a poor leader thta Hooper is a vast improvement. Arguing with any ref has never earned a free kick in the existence of the game. Australia are a long last in PR but give the limp commentators money to fill their tummys.
RM
Guest
You know things are bad when people are calling for a Messiah...
marto
Guest
Hooper would be hover somewhere around 10 th aussie. 1 Smith 2 Poido 3 David Wilson 4 David Pocock 5 Phil Waugh 6 Geoff Miller 7 Ray Price 8 Chris Roche 9 David Croft 10 Liam Gill 11 Hooper
PeterK
Roar Guru
twas - the format was the one wanted by SA to minimise traveling, and for them to be sure of 6 teams and 2 top finalists, so all slanted in their favour. ARU should have just refused it and pushed with nzru for a fairer system, funnily like the one now in place and the previous one. Lack of negotiation skills, foresight, and determination on their part to agree to such a poor format, with a report predicting the poor outcome available as well.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Stirzker was the best performed half in 2015, should have been in the rwc squad
John R
Roar Guru
Bit hard to say Stirzaker hasn't been given a fair go, when injury and form have made it difficult for him to keep the 9 jersey ahead of Meehan. Hopefully he does well under the tutelage of Genia, and they let Genia rest his legs a bit, allowing Stirzaker decent minutes.
Bakkies
Guest
'Care to support your slander with any facts?' Stick to shredding and defending your 'mates'
coldturkey
Roar Rookie
Wow, you really are a drongo.
Train Without A Station
Guest
And that situation is based on 100 years of All Black history and being the biggest honour in NZ sport. Australia has too much competition for any honour to be similar.
Train Without A Station
Guest
You keep saying this. If they vetoed it what was the alternative? If the alternative did not leave us better off, how is it a failure? It's entirely possible there were no good options to take, so they took the one with the most cash hoping that would help manage the poor situation.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Care to support your slander with any facts?
Rhys Bosley
Guest
That is alternative history, you don't know what would have happened had either McMahon or Pocock not played. All we do know is that McMahon made the greatest forward contribution in attack, while Pocock made the greatest in defence. Both of them influenced the result and you can't pin down which did more.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
I thought he was jolly good fellow sheek...
Jock Cornet
Guest
Papworth was an Aussie schoolboy from a public school, another tick .
PeterK
Roar Guru
that proves my point. Wallabies without Pocock would have lost to a team that sucked, so that would have made the wallabies worse than a team that sucked. Pocock adds that quality. IMO If he was there in June they would have beaten Scotland. Without him they are more likely to lose to France, Scotland, Wales and so on. Force all the elite players (truly world class or just below) o/s then the wallabies will be below Argentina lucky to be about Italy's standard who are ranked 14th in the world.