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By Greg Campbell
November 2, 2021 — 11.45am
Sydney Morning Herald
When Nick Farr-Jones jubilantly hoisted the Webb Ellis Trophy aloft at Twickenham 30 years ago, after the Wallabies’ gripping 12-6 World Cup final victory over England, it was the climax of a six-match tournament and a gruelling 10-Test campaign which had its genesis two years earlier.
As Michael Hooper’s men prepare for games against Scotland, England and Wales, the Wallabies’ tour will, as it did in 1989, mark a pivotal moment where Australia’s 2023 World Cup aspirations will be evaluated.
The 1989 Test series loss to the British and Irish Lions exposed weaknesses in the Wallabies and a stagnation in player development. Coach Bob Dwyer identified the changes needed to turn Australia’s latent potential into 1991 World Cup success.
Dwyer had a vision. He convinced fellow selectors John Bain and Bob Templeton that it was now or never to make bold decisions.
Leading into the 1989 Test against the All Blacks, the reigning World Cup champions, Phil Kearns was plucked from Randwick’s reserve-grade team, 18-year-old Tim Horan was elevated from the Queensland B side, and together with Australian under-21 prop Tony Daly, they were pitchforked into the Eden Park cauldron.
To counterbalance these youthful selections, grand slam-winning breakaway Simon Poidevin was coaxed out of representative retirement to add vigour and steel to the pack.
Further remedial and inspired selections were made months later. Jason Little, then 19, was paired in the centres alongside Horan for two Tests against France. A year later, prop Ewen McKenzie and the “Tongan Torpedo”, back-rower Willie Ofahengaue, made their Test debuts.
Finally, three months out from the World Cup, lock John Eales, fullback Marty Roebuck and winger Rob Egerton all made their Test debuts in home games against Wales, England and the All Blacks to complete the team’s transformation.
The World Cup journey began with a clunky 32-19 win over Argentina in Llanelli. The mercurial David Campese scored two tries, signalling the first of his brilliant individual performances. He was ultimately named player of the tournament.
Resting several key players, the Wallabies overcame Western Samoa 9-3 in muddy conditions in Pontypool before posting six tries to nil in a 38-3 demolition of Wales in Cardiff.
It was on the eve of this pool match when Dwyer, knowing the ability of his squad, delivered an emotional team-room speech concluding in a breaking voice, “Now we’ve got to take the opportunity. I do not want to die an unhappy man”.
With the pool safely negotiated, it was now sudden death starting with the quarter-final against Ireland at Lansdowne Road. The cool head of Michael Lynagh, acting as captain after Farr-Jones succumbed to a knee injury, steered Australia to victory.
Ireland breakaway Gordon Hamilton scored a tearaway try to give the home team the lead with four minutes remaining. With defeat staring the Wallabies in the face, Lynagh commanded field position and engineered a back-line move which saw him cross for the match-winning try.
The victory set up a mouth-watering semi-final against the All Blacks in Dublin. The Wallabies produced one of their greatest first-half performances to race to a 13-0 lead by the break, with Campese scoring a scything try before sending Horan over for another with an audacious over-the-shoulder pass. The final score was 16-6.
The final produced only a single try, with Daly bulldozing over after a lineout win on the England try line. The game is remembered for Eales’ extraordinary second-half cover tackle on England five-eighth Rob Andrew when a try appeared certain. When Welsh referee Derek Bevan blew full-time, the celebrations began.
With thousands of Australian and English supporters swarming across Twickenham, there was no celebratory lap of honour. Instead, the team and support staff filed down the crowded corridor into the sanctuary of the dressing room and belted out Advance Australia Fair. It had never been sung with such gusto or pride.
As the initial excitement subsided, the players slipped their battered bodies into the large bath tubs, taking turns to drink from the Cup, affectionately known as “Bill”.Each player hoisted the trophy aloft and their teammates yelled out their name, adding “world champion!”
British prime minister John Major was escorted into the room to pay tribute to the victors. He congratulated Farr-Jones, who was standing upright and naked as the day as he was born.
As the players pondered the magnitude of what had just been achieved, the thrill of victory was mixed with relief. The building pressure, burning desire and high expectations had finally been met. They had climbed their Everest to become Australia’s first Rugby World Cup champions.
Hours later, the enormity of the triumph caught up with an exhausted Farr-Jones. Feeling unwell, he excused himself from the official post-match dinner.
With celebrations going through the night at the team hotel, the players faced the reality of a morning return flight to Sydney.
As they assembled, centre Anthony Herbert was carrying the Cup in its foam-padded travel bag and asked a passer-by, “Have you met Bill?” He then opened the bag to reveal the trophy adding, “We’re taking Bill home”.
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