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Toutai Kefu’s hat-trick against Romania saw the big, skilful No.8 announce himself on the world stage.
“I didn’t have to beat 10 players or chip kick or anything,” Kefu told The Roar after being named the No.8 in our Greatest World Cup XV.
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.
“I think I ran from No.8 and pretty much strolled over. I got a really good pass from ‘Greegs’ that sent me over as well. That’s all I remember.”
But it was his fists that left perhaps the greatest impression in the early stages of the 1999 World Cup.
Who could forget Kefu and Trevor Brennan going at it at Lansdowne Road?
The incident wasn’t overbeaten. Not by the referee anyway, with nothing but a stern warning given to John Eales.
Unfortunately, the disciplinary panel thought otherwise, with both forwards slapped with two-match suspensions.
It meant Kefu missed the Wallabies’ quarter-final against Wales.
Coach Rod Macqueen was furious.
“We are very disappointed with the decision,” Macqueen said at the time.
“It’s one that will have a significant impact on our World Cup plans. Toutai is a very important part of our team and this will have serious implications for us. I believe an injustice has been done.”
Macqueen and Kefu are fortunate the incident occurred in 1999 and not 2023 otherwise it would have been more than the quarter-final that the No.8 missed.
Kefu, of course, returned in time for when it mattered, starting against the Springboks and France to help lead the Wallabies to World Cup glory.
Toutai Kefu gets clear of the Romania defence to score the first try (Photo by Steve Mitchell/EMPICS via Getty Images
“It was a special time. You don’t realise how special it is until after the fact,” Kefu told The Roar.
“You look back and reflect, but there were some special players that made our team great.
“I think the most important thing and what I remember from back then was just the connections we had between the players and the coaching staff, we were really well connected. We were all really good mates both on and off the field, and I think that made the team that extra special.”
Kefu said the Wallabies benefitted from having an experienced group that helped shelter the young, fresh and exciting talent coming through.
“I came through the ranks and some of us didn’t have that expectation on us where probably the senior players, who had been to a World Cup and were more in the spotlight, people like the Ealeses, [Tim] Horans, [Jason] Littles, [Matt] Burkes, who had massive media coverage on them, they’re probably the guys who felt the pressure and they did a really good job to shelter us away from that,” Kefu said.
“But for us young players, there was a young core group, [Stephen] Larkham, myself, Ben Tune, Joe Roff, we all came through the system together, we didn’t have that expectation on us and we were there for the ride. We were just swept up in the whole gala of the World Cup.
“We had a really good senior group and we had some bloody special players, five or six of them were the best in their position in the world, and that bloody helps. As a young guy coming through that era, we were having the timing of our lives. We trained hard, we trained hard as anyone else, we prepared two years for that tournament, it was the fitness we’d ever been, but for us young blokes weren’t bogged down in any expectation.”
It’s a stark contrast to the feeling Kefu has now, with the former World Cup winner in charge of Tonga’s campaign for the second straight tournament.
“Oh my, it’s totally different. I’m thinking about stuff at 10 and 11 o’clock,” Kefu quipped ahead of Tonga’s World Cup opener against Ireland.
“Whereas as a player, once you finish training that’s it. As a coach, this last week has been really stressful.
“We tried to name our squad and we tried to put it out last week, but we just couldn’t. We had a red card hanging over one of our players. We had numerous injuries. We also had a club that was trying to get one of our players back for a medical joker, who didn’t have an existing contract. So, he left our team. There’s a lot of moving parts.
“Coaching is probably the easiest part, it’s managing the whole squad and the staff and the schedule that is more challenging.
“The landscape that Tongan rugby union is living, we’ve got a lot more challenges as a tier two nation than New Zealand or France or England.”
As for what represents success for Tonga at this year’s campaign, Kefu says knocking over one of the big guns – Ireland, South Africa or Scotland.
It won’t be easy, but Kefu says “it’s definitely our best squad ever at a World Cup”.
For Kefu, should Tonga be able to take down one of the big three, who are each ranked inside World Rugby’s top five on the standings, his coaching deeds could in history become better known than his work at the back of the scrum for the Wallabies in 1999.
Toutai Kefu is your choice of No.8 for The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV, powered by ASICS, the Official Performance Apparel and Footwear supplier for the Wallabies. Kefu won with 70.4% of the vote, followed by Willie Ofahengaue and David Lyons. Check back tomorrow to find out who was selected at No.7.
The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.