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It’s formally World Cup day! God, it feels good to say that.
Set your early alarms and have your jersey out and prepared for the tenth iteration of the Rugby World Cup, with the mom of all openers kicking off tonight between host nations France and the All Blacks.
Within the construct as much as this present day, we’ve been counting down the fifteen gamers and head coach who you have got decided to be the best to ever signify Australia on the Rugby World Cup, from its first iteration in 1987 by way of to 2019.
The choice course of consisted of whittling down from a longlist of over 150 gamers and coaches to a shortlist managed by our panel of specialists Brett McKay, Jim Tucker and Christy Doran, in an particular episode of the Roar Rugby Podcast.
Followers debated participant positions and who was included (or certainly, who wasn’t), with the important thing marker for a lot of coming right down to the success achieved on the World Cup, not simply right down to sheer athletic capacity. Voting lasted the size of the 2023 Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup collection, with hundreds of votes tallied.
Now, lastly, we will current to you The Roar’s Best Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV, powered by ASICS, the Official Efficiency Attire and Footwear provider for the Wallabies.
HEAD COACH: ROD MACQUEEN
The meticulous planner, the tactician, and one of many biggest rugby minds Australia has ever produced. Rod Macqueen received with 59.3% of the vote, adopted by Bob Dwyer and Eddie Jones.
His strategy to place apart ego for the higher good of the staff and convey the assistant coaches and gamers actively on board to drive the Wallabies’ techniques performed an important function within the Wallabies second World Cup triumph in 1999, a second and a staff that has Australian rugby followers have held on to for 20 years.
Learn our full particular on Rod Macqueen right here.
Tony Daly scores a attempt within the 1991 World Cup remaining (Photograph by Phil O’Brien/EMPICS by way of Getty Photographs)
- LOOSE HEAP PROP – TONY DALY
Our most hotly contested place, Tony Daly received with 26.5% of the vote, intently adopted by Dan Crowley and Richard Harry.
The black sheep in a deadly entrance row that received the 1991 World Cup, Daly was a preferred member of Bob Dwyer’s staff. Following tackling trauma sustained throughout his college years, rugby proved to be an escape, and Wallabies teammates rallied round when he grew to become concerned within the Survivors & Mates Help Community (SAMSN), helped contribute to his redemption.
Learn our full particular on Tony Daly right here.
Phil Kearns (Photograph by Getty Photographs)
- HOOKER – PHIL KEARNS
A determine that at all times provokes a vibrant response (and it definitely did with you guys), Phil Kearns received with 54.1% of the vote, adopted by Stephen Moore and Jeremy Paul.
Seen by some on each side of the Tasman as possessing an boastful trait, there was no denying his aggressive spirit and want to win. That translated into his life off the sector, taking part in a pivotal function in bringing Invoice again to Australian shores in 2027.
Learn our full particular on Phil Kearns right here.
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie walks off the pitch following warm-up throughout The Rugby Championship match between Argentina and the Australian Wallabies at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on October 4, 2014 in Mendoza, Argentina. (Photograph by Cameron Spencer/Getty Photographs)
- TIGHT HEAD PROP – EWEN MCKENZIE
One among a choose few who each represented and coached on the nationwide degree, McKenzie received with 42% of the vote, adopted by Sekope Kepu and Taniela Tupou.
It says so much that regardless of being intently adopted by two of the stronger gamers of the trendy Wallabies period, Hyperlink nonetheless stands out. Alongside Daly and Kearns, he was the pre-eminent tighthead prop in one of many Wallabies’ most profitable eras. As a coach, he led the Reds to their 2011 Tremendous Rugby title, and coached the Wallabies for 22 assessments.
Learn our full particular on Ewen McKenzie right here.
Dan Vickerman, Australia, in the course of the groups nationwide anthems earlier than the South Africa V Australia Quarter Ultimate match on the IRB Rugby World Cup match. Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, ninth October 2011. Photograph Tim Clayton (Photograph by Tim Clayton/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs)
- SECOND ROW – DAN VICKERMAN
Many commenters on The Roar famous this was their coronary heart choose, and it was clear Massive V is nicely liked, profitable with 41% of the vote, adopted by Justin Harrison and Rod McCall.
A 63 take a look at veteran and Tremendous 12 winner, Vickerman was a pupil of the sport: the final word second rower who knew how one can hit rucks and decode lineouts. Many have famous that he would have been a lethal mixture along with his fellow second rower choose.
Learn our full particular on Dan Vickerman right here.
Australian captain John Eales (C) and his teammates rejoice after profitable the 1999 Rugby Union World Cup remaining towards France. Australia received the ultimate 35 to 12. (Photograph by Franck Seguin/Corbis/VCG by way of Getty Photographs)
- SECOND ROW – JOHN EALES (CAPT)
Successful his contest for second row by the most important margin, John Eales has been argued by Roar commenters as being THE Wallaby. It appears to be the case, with him profitable the quantity 5 place with 94.3% of the vote, adopted by Nathan Sharpe and James Horwill. He was additionally the landslide winner for the Captaincy, profitable with 77.9% of the vote, adopted by Nick Farr-Jones and George Gregan.
It’s arduous to argue why: a two-time World Cup winner, a number of Bledisloe Cup winner, and a person on the centre of the best moments ever in Wallaby gold. 1999 at Millennium Stadium nonetheless lives lengthy within the reminiscence for Australian followers.
Learn our full particular on John Eales right here.
(Ross Setford/Getty Photographs)
- BLINDSIDE FLANKER – OWEN FINEGAN
A consequence that shocked fairly a number of, Owen Finegan received with a slender 30.8% of the vote, adopted by Willie Ofahengaue and Simon Poidevin. It says so much about Willie O that he got here second each right here and within the contest for Quantity Eight, such was the flexibility of him as a participant.
Finegan takes the candies, scoring the profitable attempt within the 1999 World Cup remaining over France, highlighting his sturdy marketing campaign in Australia’s second World Cup triumph.
Learn our full particular on Owen Finegan right here.
George Smith. (Photograph by Cameron Spencer/Getty Photographs)
- OPENSIDE FLANKER – GEORGE SMITH
With some latest legends of the sport in David Pocock and Michael Hooper speaking the silver and bronze respectively, it’s arduous to disclaim what number of nice free forwards Australia has produced over time. It says much more then that regardless of the competitors, George Smith nonetheless has a stranglehold on this place, profitable 57.2% of the vote.
Richie McCaw named him as one of many 5 gamers he least preferred taking part in towards. Sufficient mentioned.
Learn our full particular on George Smith right here.
Toutai Kefu will get away from the Romania defence to attain the primary attempt (Photograph by Steve Mitchell/EMPICS by way of Getty Photographs
- NUMBER EIGHT – TOUTAI KEFU
Kefu continues to be a really beloved determine in Australian rugby, profitable with 70.4% of the vote, adopted by Willie Ofahengaue and David Lyons.
It wasn’t simply due to THAT attempt in 2001, however for his sturdy showings in the course of the 1999 World Cup, which included a full match efficiency within the remaining and for his well-known hattrick towards Romania.
Learn our full particular on Toutai Kefu right here.
George Gregan representing the Wallabies on the 1999 Rugby World Cup. (Photograph by Dave Rogers /Allsport/Getty Photographs)
- SCRUM-HALF – GEORGE GREGAN
A lot of Australia’s finest have run out with the Quantity 9 on their again, so it says so much that George Gregan received with 62.8% of the vote, adopted by Nick Farr-Jones and Will Genia.
One of many most interesting gamers to return out of the capital, ‘Guv’ left an indelible mark on Australian rugby and their World Cup fortunes, and in addition delivered top-of-the-line ever sledges made towards the All Blacks. 4 extra years, certainly.
Learn our full particular on George Gregan right here.
Stephen Larkham towards South Africa within the semi-final of the 1999 Rugby World Cup. (Photograph by Ross Setford/Getty Photographs)
- FLY-HALF – STEPHEN LARKHAM
It appeared virtually inevitable that if Gregan was taking scrum-half, his Brumby staff mate would full the halves mixture. Stephen Larkham received with 71.2% of the vote, adopted by Michael Lynagh and Quade Cooper.
Whereas Lynagh supplies stiff competitors, the World Cup period will be divided into the time earlier than Bernie, and the time when Bernie opened up how the Wallabies performed, and certainly, might play.
Learn our full particular on Stephen Larkham right here.
David Campese of the Wallabies in motion throughout a Rugby Union take a look at match between Wales and the Australian Wallabies on the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Australia received 28-9. (Photograph by Getty Photographs)
- LEFT WINGER – DAVID CAMPESE
Sure, we hear you. There’s a whole lot of debate round whether or not Campo performed extra on the proper or left wing. Regardless, any staff with out him can be inaccurate, as a result of in 1991 he was in all places for the Wallabies on the sector. It was mirrored in him profitable with 56.3% of the vote, adopted by Joe Roff and Marika Koroibete.
Simply probably the most mentioned member of this staff within the feedback, his maverick vitality and magnificence grew to become synonymous with how the Wallabies play: thrilling, ahead considering rugby, performed with a ‘she’s-only-with-him-cause-she-hasn’t-met-me-yet’ type of confidence.
Learn our full particular on David Campese right here.
Tim Horan, one of many Wallabies’ biggest World Cup gamers. (David Rogers/Allsport)
- INSIDE CENTRE – TIM HORAN
An icon of the Nineties Wallabies, Tim Horan simply received with 80.1% of the vote, adopted by Matt Giteau and Elton Flatley. So sturdy a maintain that Horan has on this place, commenters began to think about how good a combo the Wallabies may need had, had Horan been paired with the choose at Outdoors Centre.
Our knowledgeable Jim Tucker nailed it succinctly when he wrote in our particular that ‘there have been few positions in The Roar’s Best Wallabies RWC XV that took two seconds for a voting determination. It took a single second to ink in “T Horan”.’
Learn our full particular on Tim Horan right here.
Stirling Mortlock runs to attain Australia’s first attempt within the 2003 semi (Photograph by Manuel Blondeau/Photograph & Co./Corbis/VCG by way of Getty Photographs)
- OUTSIDE CENTRE – STIRLING MORTLOCK
There’s loads of competitors for Outdoors Centre, and it says so much in regards to the high quality of the ‘Interceptor’, Stirling Mortlock, that he received with 54.1% of the vote, adopted by Jason Little and Daniel Herbert.
Regardless of being identified for that semi-final attempt, Mortlock was accountable for among the finest moments in Wallaby gold of the Noughties. Let’s all think about for a second that he and Horan, at peak type, ran on the sector collectively. Deadly.
Learn our full particular on Stirling Mortlock right here.
- RIGHT WING – BEN TUNE
Ben Tune’s time in Wallaby gold left a huge effect on the staff, profitable with 51.1% of the vote, adopted by Adam Ashley-Cooper and Wendell Sailor.
Onerous as nails, and scoring a formidable twenty-four tries in forty-seven matches for the Wallabies, it was such a disgrace we didn’t get to see Tune repeat his ‘99 heroics in 2003, as accidents denied him a range probability. We at all times have Cardiff, although.
Learn our full particular on Ben Tune right here.
- FULLBACK – MATTHEW BURKE
Saving one of many biggest for final, Matthew Burke received with 54.8% of the vote, adopted by Chris Latham and Israel Folau.
Seen as the person whose boot guided Australia by way of the 1999 World Cup marketing campaign, Burke had ice in his veins and will at all times ship. Extra impressively although, he caps off a staff that’s nonetheless fondly remembered.
Learn our full particular on Matthew Burke right here.
And with that, you have got your staff, powered by ASICS, the Official Efficiency Attire and Footwear provider for the Wallabies. Thanks to the hundreds of rugby followers who voted!
Will we see the 2023 Wallabies write their very own historical past and etch themselves into Australia rugby folklore come the top of October? The time for speaking is over: it’s now time to play.
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