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Phil Kearns was the prototype of the new-age hooker in Australia when he burst onto the scene as a bullocking, ball-handling runner to go with his set piece strengths.
He appeared too unscarred for the front-row when he made his Test debut in 1989 when plucked from Randwick reserve grade.
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.
He was just 22 and a “fresh faced cherub” by the reckoning of prop Tony Daly, who also made his debut that day against the All Blacks in front of more than 45,000 fans at Eden Park.
In just over two years of Test education, the duo absorbed all the hard lessons and gave out plenty themselves to become World Cup champions in 1991.
Kearns was a force at the 1991 tournament in a front-row that commanded respect. The No.2 jersey is his in The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies RWC XV.
Kearns was integral to that success and his mentality definitely played a part. Daly again gave some sharp insights in Road To Victory: The Wallabies’ Story.
Daly wrote that Kearns had a “determination and perfectionism second to none” as “the most competitive person I have ever met.”
“He has an arrogance about him which shouldn’t be taken the wrong way but admired because it is all part of his willingness to succeed,” Daly added.
That trait bubbled famously to the surface as payback at Wellington’s Athletic Park in 1990. Renowned All Blacks rival Sean Fitzpatrick had been niggling Kearns since his 1989 debut with taunts like “you’re just a baby.”
Kearns barged over for a try from a lineout in Wellington and gave the prone Fitzpatrick a two-fingered salute as the Wallabies marched to victory.
Phil Kearns (Photo by Getty Images)
The back-slapping society finished there from Daly who also made sure the playful gags of the day surfaced too. Two Kearns’ nicknames within the Wallabies both referred to lineout misfires…“Scud” (his throws miss the target by miles like the missile) and “Lightning” (never strikes twice in the same place).
The 67-Test figure played at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa and shared a second World Cup success in 1999.
Unfortunately, his 1999 role was cut short after just two appearances in the pool stages when he ruptured a ligament in his foot against Ireland. It was to be his final Test.
Kearns had no soft spot for Ireland hooker Keith Wood so playful teammates decided he should endure a life-sized cutout of his Irish foe on the team bus just to bug him. The Kearns sense of humour was directed at others so it was all fair game to get him back.
As Executive Director of Australia’s 2027 RWC Bid, Kearns was back in the trenches playing a major role in helping to woo World Rugby’s powerbrokers.
The success in winning hosting rights is only the start. Having a new and expanded wave of boys and girls taking to the game he loves means everything.
“Absolutely the No.1 reason I did this job was to try to get a base point to rebuild rugby in this country,” Kearns said.
“With the 2027 World Cup, we are talking participant numbers going up 30 per cent and that’s players, referees, administrators, volunteers and so on.
“To have the World Cup to inspire those people is crucial. The heart and soul of the game is club rugby be it subbies, Hospital Cup, Shute Shield and so on.
“If World Cup 2027 can inspire, that’s the job.”
Phil Kearns is your choice of No.2 for The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV, powered by ASICS, the Official Performance Apparel and Footwear supplier for the Wallabies. Kearns won with 54.1% of the vote, followed by Stephen Moore and Jeremy Paul. Check back tomorrow to find out who was selected at No.1.
The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV