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The Wallabies’ single try for their triumph in the 1991 World Cup final is an historic yet bland lineout rumble over the line from point-blank range.
World Cup highlights packages are a rapid-fire series of joyous moments but they are often a serious fail on the full story.
The Roar is counting down the Wallabies’ Greatest World Cup XV of all time from No. 15-1 with thanks to thousands of votes from our readers
How did the Wallabies get the throw-in to that 5m lineout on England’s tryline about half an hour into the final at Twickenham?
England flyhalf Rob Andrew had dinked a kick deep into the Wallabies’ 22. Young Wallabies centre Tim Horan snaffled the kick with his back to the defence. In a twinkling, he’d bumped off two burly Englishmen who could have stopped him right there.
Horan dashed another 45m before grubbering a perfect kick ahead which England fullback Jon Webb had to escort into touch.
The full story was Horan’s 80m play setting up the game-breaking try … and it’s almost never shown on the highlights!
This is all a long-winded way to say the Prince of Centres had as much to do with winning the 1991 World Cup as he did in 1999.
There were few positions in The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies RWC XV that took two seconds for a voting decision. It took a single second to ink in “T Horan”.
He was a savvy 21-year-old who worked out very quickly in 1991 that loitering around David Campese would have its pay-offs.
Tim Horan during a 1991 World Cup match against Argentina. (Photo by Marc Francotte/TempSport/Corbis via Getty Images)
He scored a try off Campese’s shoulder against Argentina and then completed one of the great World Cup tries in history to sink the All Blacks in the semi-final in Dublin.
“Campo” ran a perfect angle to collect a Michael Lynagh kick ahead. Somehow, the winger then flipped a no-look pass over his shoulder, Horan swooped and scored.
Horan’s fast feet and strength through contact were two of his best features. Just getting to the 1995 World Cup in South Africa showed the resilience of a champion.
Horan had damaged his knee so badly during Queensland’s victory in the 1994 Super 10 final in Durban that medicos likened the injury to a car crash victim.
There were doubts he’d walk properly again. Playing rugby again was a mountain to climb and certainly with no guarantee he’d ever play to his dynamic best.
A long, painful and determined rehabilitation got him to the 1995 tournament where he did play three games.
By 1999, he was back to his very best and the worthy man-of-the-tournament.
He was now a centre of vast experience as well as polish and timing.
One of the finest matches of his career was the semi-final victory over South Africa in extra-time at Twickenham.
He made one of his trademark, veering 40m runs and crashtackled Percy Montgomery as two highlights in the tense 27-21 armwrestle which did not feature a try.
He stayed on the field deep into the contest which defied being so sick in the build-up he’d been vomiting and battling stomach cramps.
Winning a second final was a crowning achievement for Horan, whose decorated career spanned 80 Tests.
All were in the starting side – just as he had to be in The Roar‘s Greatest Wallabies RWC XV.
Tim Horan is your choice of No.12 for The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV, powered by ASICS, the Official Performance Apparel and Footwear supplier for the Wallabies. Horan won with 80.1% of the vote, followed by Matt Giteau and Elton Flatley. Check back tomorrow to find out who was selected at No.11.
The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV