And so we reach the final test of the tour, which was actually the penultimate test 25 years ago. This time, however, we won’t win the Grand Slam. Hell, its more than likelywe won’t win this test.
Our backs are looking ponderous and directionless. The odd break is being made, but it inevitably dies out. The skills just look lacking as players try to overplay their hand or just plain don’t know what to do. So let’s pause for a momnet and review highlights of the famous Welsh test way back in 1984:
Ahhhh….that provides some respite from the frustrations of last weekend. This tour. This season. This generation.
So which try to look at? The most famous one is the push over obviously (at 4:15), but in the end there’s not too much to anaylise. We overpowered them.
Mark Ella’s (6:05) is an option because it continued his try-a-game performance. But it was an intercept, so not too much there either.
Tommy Lawton’s (1:21) was of special historical significance, but in the end I option for one scored by one Michael Lynagh.
So take yourself to the 2 minute mark. The Wallabies have a scrum about 45m out and 15m in. So a large blindside. Given the strong Wallaby scrum and the fact that Welsh Number 8, Eddie Butler, was lacking match fitness having just returned from injury, the Wallabies had planned to work backrow moves down the blind. And that’s the set up here.
Big Steve Tynman [8] picks up the ball at the back of the scrum and turns to pass behind his back in an effort to draw the Welsh scrumhalf David Bishop [9].
The Wallaby scrumhalf, Nick Farr-Jones [9], has strategically placed himself outside the Irish referee to allow him some further protection from the cover. Once Fudge gets the ball he heads straight, ball in two hands and committing the defense before firing a flat pass out wide to David Campese [11] having drawn the Welsh winger Mark Titley [14]. The Welsh flanker Alun Davies [6] and Bishop are both blocked momentarily by the referee whilst Butler seems slow to respond to the move.
Campo heads straight down the tram tracks with plenty of Welsh cover, most of whom forwards, who can not match his pace. Knowing he has outpaced Davies and Butler, Campo takes on the fullback, Mark Wyatt [15] and just runs past him on the inside with some smooth footwork. Rob Ackerman [12] is covering and Campo attempts to get inside him as well.
Ackerman manages to slow Campo down, or more specifically hault his momentum, as Dai Pickering [7] and Mark Ring [13] close in in cover. Campese manages to lob a pass in field to open side flanker Simon Poidevin [6] who has effectively maintained his running line from the scrum (remembering that the move began with a scrum 15m infield, which is pretty much where Poido catches this pass, just 30m down field. Nice support lines).
The Welsh winger from the opposite side of the field, Phil Lewis [11], has covered well and rushes to close down the movement as Poido gets the ball. However Poidevin manages the perfect catch and pass to Michael Lynagh [12] who has, like Poido, maintained his support line straight down the field to score under the black dot.
Match Details:
Wales v Australia
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
24 November, 1984
Australia: Roger Gould, Peter Grigg, Andrew Slack [c], Michael Lynagh, David Campese, Mark Ella, Nick Farr-Jones, Steve Tuynman, Simon Poidevin, David Codey, Steve Cutler, Stephen Williams, Enrique Rodrigez, Tom Lawton, Andy McIntyre.
Wales: Mark Wyatt, Mark Titley, Mark Ring, Rob Ackerman, Phil Lewis, Malcolm Dacey, David Bishop, Eddie Butler, Dai Pickering, Alun Davies, John Perkins, Bob Norster, Ian Stephens, Mike Watkins [c], Ian Eidman. Replacements: Jeff Whitefoot.
Australia 28 (Mark Ella, Tom Lawton, Michael Lynagh, Steve Tynman tries; Roger Gould 3 conv, 2 pg) defeated Wales 9 (David Bishop try; Mark Wyatt conv, pg)
Tags: 1984, david campese, Eddie Butler, grand slam, Michael Lynagh, Nick Farr-Jones, Simon Poidevin, Steve Tuynman, Wales, Wallabies
It’s funny watching Gould toe-poking when Lynagh went on to be such a prolific kicker.
For those who argue the merits of twin playmakers at 10 and 12, this series of Grand Slam videos are great support for that argument.
If I remember rightly Lynagh got the yips.
Love the old school toe punt conversions off a tuft of grass by the aussie 15.
Thanks for the 84 grand slam videos Noddy, it was from these games that I started following rugby. If only todays Wallaby backs could run lines and support breaks like these guys then I’m sure we’d get more wins and a bigger fan base.
Great video…..
Backs running at depth and pace
No lifting in the lineout
Breakdowns short and sweet
4 point tries
Torpedo kicks at goal
Ball in hand, no aimless kicks
Proper scrums – none of that touch pause engage nonsense
Forwards playing like forwards not loitering in the backs
Forwards committing to rucks and mauls
GOLD jerseys
RUCKING!!!!!
Brought a tear to my eye…
Makes me think that I’m not sure the game has progressed….
Backs running at depth and pace.
Yes awesome.
I could never understand why the WBS replaced that with playing so close to the advantage line. There are obviously sound technical reasons for it, but to me it always looked like they were cramped. Certainly not so much when Steve Larkham was at 1st five because he ran such subtle lines and produced such sizzling flat cut out passes. But when he wasn’t there it was an attack strategy which didn’t seem to fire very well.
As for proper scrums – no touch, pause, engage nonsense – AMEN to that. It is nonsense, absolute undiluted and puerile nonsense that produces a plethora of penalties where there were none before. On top of that we now have scrums engaging with twice the impact they used to.
And no forwards in the backline. I’m pretty old fashioned here, but if a forward is in the backline that is one less power unit doing the grunt work at the breakdown.
Unless they are a 7, forwards in the backline add nothing to the attack whatever. They usually get tackled with ridiculous ease (Nathan Sharpe) and simply slow the pill down.
Added to all of that is the undeniable fact that the game, as it was played then, was a genuine spectacle. Since then the law makers have been like mad scientists tinkering insanely with the rules to produce something which is now dangerously close to being stagnant and impotent.
However, the IRB’s fairy godmother gave the game some little elves which nearly rejuvinated the game over night. Then they shot her.
Madness.
Ditto plus Backs running with ball in two hands with support runners.
How quick were the scrums set back then? The players and ref all just wanted to get it over and done with and get on with the game – none of the stuffing round that we get today from all parties.
Thanks for the series Noddy, its been great for someone who was too young to enjoy the GS first time round
Its great to see these old videos. A couple of things come to mind when watching. Firstly the general intensity of the game, there seems to be a real desperation all over the field from both teams. The speed in which the scrum in packed after the knock-on is phenomenal. With the professional game there is almost time for a NFL type ad break before every set piece. great nostalgia associated with these grand slam videos.
Hope the boys can carve out their own piece of history on saturday and we can look back on the videos of this current series in 20 years with somewhat similar feelings. We may need a ‘Men In Black’ type memory eraser for the scotland match.
The backing up by the 84 Wallabies is fantastic and it wouldn’t hurt the current mob to have a look at this video before K.O. on Saturday.
The backrow and inside backs maintain their lines but are always there on the inside when a break is made down touch or on the blind.
So many clean breaks for the Wallabies this year have gone without reward as there is no-one backing up and the player gets isolated and penalised.
The 84 team knew that when they made a break their support would be exactly where it was every time allowing them to make a decision without looking around to see who was there.
Ridiculous the contrast between the great back play in creating tries here compared to what we are seeing from the current Wallabies. Look back then how they created something out of nothing. These days we’re creating nothing out of something!
True, support on the ball carrier will scorch the line every time. The Crusaders have proved this time after endless time. I don’t believe that Mr R Deans is not trying to infuse this into the current WB setup because it’s the stamp he puts on the game plan.
He has an ongoing mantra. Play what’s in front of you and play for each other.
The 84 WBs had it in spades. When the current crop finally learn it we will see some amazing rugby from them. And I still believe it’s when not if, but at least one highly paid WB needs to be re educated before it becomes a reality.
We got very close to seeing it against the Cardiff Blues and it was from a WB second string outfit too.
What could the first stringers do if they had the will to?????
Does anyone notice how quick they pack scrums and get on with it, rather than 4 minutes of utter boredom. They should set time limits to be ready to pack down.