Few sides were caught unawares by the great John Eales after the bogus billing for his first run-on role for Queensland in Canberra.
As was the style of then-Queensland coach John Connolly, he never wanted to give anything away even when playing an outgunned ACT side in 1990.
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.
Because no one knew too much about Eales at 19, Connolly pulled a con with one local reporter when announcing a replacement for the injured Bill Campbell.
“The short, stocky John Eales” was in, Connolly said slyly in the pre-YouTube age.
The stripling was already 2m tall and still to add the extra kilograms that would help turn him into the pre-eminent lock of his era.
Eales redefined what to expect from a lock at World Cup time and everywhere in between. He was a lock at lock even before voting started for The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies XV.
Everything happened fast for Eales. He was playing a Brisbane club grand final for Brothers at 20, winning the competition’s Rothmans Medal as best player at the same age, and debuting for the Wallabies at 21.
He was still just 21 when he embarked on the 1991 World Cup tour. He was almost in need of an on-field minder when the Welsh, Irish and English happily barged him with stray elbows and other body parts at re-starts.
Australian captain John Eales (C) and his teammates celebrate after winning the 1999 Rugby Union World Cup final against France. Australia won the final 35 to 12. (Photo by Franck Seguin/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
His mark as a two-time World Cup-winner had a slow-burning beginning as a clumsy No.8.
True. The pre-tournament injury to top-choice No.8 Tim Gavin had forced the Wallabies into a creative measure.
He fumbled several balls at the back of Australia’s unstable scrum against Argentina in Llanelli and got another chance there against Western Samoa in Pontypool.
Enough. The experiment was over. Eales was back to lock to make a supreme mark in that spot for another decade.
His lineout-winning was crucial to the 1991 World Cup success but there was also a big moment in the final against England at Twickenham that reflected his rare, all-round package of skills.
A lock had no right to tackle England flyhalf Rob Andrew from behind to shut down a dangerous situation. He did.
The value of strong mentors was clear for Eales and always should be in the development of modern players. He played for the Brothers club, Queensland and Australia with Rod McCall as a lock partner all the way to the 1991 final.
“There was a time where I spent more time with my arm around ‘Slaughter’ than my girlfriend,” Eales quipped of the volume of scrums they packed together.
In the decade to follow, Eales played at three World Cups. He slotted angled conversions against Romania in Stellenbosch in 1995, he kept winning lineouts, he shunted in scrums, he carted the ball forward, there were dexterous touches in general play and class in many more areas.
He was also the statesman captain of the 1999 World Cup-winning side. The image of him holding aloft the Webb Ellis Cup at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, after being presented the trophy by the late Queen Elizabeth II, is one of the most iconic in Australian rugby history.
John Eales, Australian captain, receives the Webb Ellis trophy from HRH Queen Elizabeth (Photo by Sportsfile/Corbis/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Rewind the footage on the classic Owen Finegan try to complete the victory over France in that final. The rehearsed set play was only possible because Eales winning the lineout was so assured.
Eales had great balance to his game just as that 1999 side had great balance throughout the line-up.
“You know you’re going into a game where at the end of the 80 minutes of that match, you’re either going to be world champions or you’re not,” he noted later.
“There’s nothing in between those two things. It’s not going to make your life good or bad but it does change your life from the perspective where you’ve got this moment of judgment that you’ve worked so hard towards, and you can walk away from it as a winner.”
Eales said while many might see it as a culmination of a four-year period, it was much more than that.
“It’s not a four years achievement, it’s a lifetime achievement.”
John Eales is your choice of No.5 for The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV, powered by ASICS, the Official Performance Apparel and Footwear supplier for the Wallabies. Eales won with 94.3% of the vote, followed by Nathan Sharpe and James Horwill. Check back tomorrow to find out who was selected at No.4.
John Eales was also your choice for Captain of The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV, winning with 77.9% of the vote, followed by Nick Farr-Jones and George Gregan.
The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV
- Fullback: Matthew Burke
- Right Winger: Ben Tune
- Outside Centre: Stirling Mortlock
- Inside Centre: Tim Horan
- Left Winger: David Campese
- Fly-half: Stephen Larkham
- Scrum-half: George Gregan
- Number Eight: Toutai Kefu
- Openside Flanker: George Smith
- Blindside Flanker: Owen Finegan
- Second Row: John Eales (c)
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Not in a world cup,jez,but who could forget that penalty he kicked against the AB's in Wellington to retain the Bledisloe?Makes the current BC drought even more painful!
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
Clearly, hence my recognition of Tune as a brilliant player. Not as rounded and skilful as Roff, but still a brilliant ball-runner.
Jez North
Roar Rookie
Roff was definitely a better positional player, suppprt player and kicker but his attack wasn’t as deadly as Tune’s and I recall seeing him beaten in several one on ones (not most). The ‘ignorant’ remark reflects the previous comment insinuating there is no contest between Tune & Roff as to who was the better player. Clearly they both possessed traits and performances worthy of consideration as the better winger.
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
Ignorant statements? What? Roff had a kicking game, he was outstanding in attack, he popped up all over the field as well as being a world class finisher, and defensively he was brilliant. To say that his defence was suspect IS ignorance. I'm not criticising Tune at all, he was a fantastic player, but he did NOT have the skill set of Joe Roff.
Hughi
Roar Rookie
Come on guys don't bring me down. Fond memories dashed to pieces. I'm off to have my dementia test now thanks to you two.
Hughi
Roar Rookie
Better memory than me. Thanks for the clarification.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Having grown up in the golden era of Australian Rugby just makes it hard to watch these days
Jez North
Roar Rookie
I think he was superior to Johnson and the best of his time like Meads or DuPreez. I wonder how he would fare against Matfield who I also highly rate for skill and leadership.
Jez North
Roar Rookie
“Tune over Roff a bit of nonsense”. Roff was vulnerable in a one on one tackle where Tune was near impregnable, he even brought down Lomu on most occasions. He was faster than Roff and a better finisher. The only suspect defender who gets a spot is Campo because his attack was from another planet. I’m all for differing opinions but ignorant statements need to be called out.
Virgil
Roar Rookie
How does he compare with Martin Johnson?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I’m with you. I voted Vickerman and also expect Giffin will get the nod. I really thought Vickerman was the difference between us as also rans and a real chance in 2011. Other things contributed as it turned out but he was world class
Sage
Roar Rookie
Lay down misere for nobody. Greatest rugby ambassador to pull on the green and gold. Have a kiwi mate who sent me a vid of the last minute AB try to win at Suncorp, links last game, as he knew I was there and was gutted. I returned serve with the Nobody penalty kick to retain the Bled in NZ. Everyone knew he'd kick it cause it was him. Locks don't do that. Special
Gary
Roar Rookie
Giffin over McCall by a wide margin . Better in all facets including enforcer , who could forget him taking out that Pommie thug at the lineout at Twickenham all those years ago .
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
Did the opposition not score a try from the scrum after the knock on?
Footy Franks
Roar Rookie
The selections are spot on. Eales has to be captain for sure.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
But he was great in World Cups and scored that monster try in the final. I have to agree with the team so far since it is what I picked
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
Many pick themselves, but there are a few surprises... Mortlock over Little and Herbert is one, and Tune over Roff is a bit of a nonsense. The way the voting was set up made it impossible to select Roff and Campese in the same side, but they really should have been. Roff on the left, Campo on the right. Tune was brilliant, but he wasn't Joe Roff.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
From memory Hughi, he was lifted to block that kick. Not surprisingly, as with other SH innovations that didn’t suit the NH teams, the IRB had it outlawed fairly quickly.
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
The Eales era was just before I got into rugby during the 1999 WC as a 26 year old. But mainly just after that when I started playing here in Japan from 2001. Eales has been a great ambassador for the game and speaks like a champion! I wish I had of grown up watching Union, but growing up moving from Geelong(AFL) to the Gold Coast (League) those 2 sports were in my blood. I’m so happy to have Union in my blood now as well! Bring on the build up to this coming week because living in Japan you realize what a great international game it really is!!!!! Come on the Wallabies!!
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
I've picked the whole team so far... I think it picks itself :silly: