Opinion
Why Ellis Park marks the start of Wallabies’ next golden era
Peter FitzSimons
Columnist and author“Was that stunning Wallaby win,” my friend Martin Devlin asked me on New Zealand radio this week, “the most significant win for Australian rugby since they beat the Lions in the Third Test in 2001?”
“No,” I replied, drawing deep on my pipe, while stroking my grey beard, “it was the most significant win since the 1984 grand slam.”
See, as magnificent as that Lions win was 24 years ago, it was also pretty much the end of an era, as it was close to the last gasp of the John Eales Wallabies side that had swept all before them. And it began our long dark night of the soul in which – with notable exceptions like the 2003 and 2015 World Cup sides – we were too often swept away.
The 1984 grand slam triumph, by contrast, marked the beginning of a great era that lasted for the better part of two decades.
But that win last Saturday? Coming back from 22-0 down after 18 minutes to smash the incumbent world champions 38-22 at Ellis Park, where they hadn’t been beaten by us in 62 years? On the back of the Wallabies’ magnificent last two Tests against the British & Irish Lions, it dinkum felt like the beginning of a new era, the one we have so long been waiting for.
This is a special team, blessed with a special coach. The challenge will be just how closely they can stick together during the next two years leading up to the home Rugby World Cup of 2027. But after that performance, there can be no doubt: we now have the ingredients for a team can beat any in the world!
The Wallabies celebrate after their epic win at Ellis Park on Saturday.Credit: AP
And yes, of course we’ll know more after tonight’s Test against the Boks in Cape Town (Sunday, 1:10am, AEST), but in the meantime: wow, wow, WOW!
And the most wonderful thing was just how much it electrified the entire Australian rugby community. There have been times in the past two decades when you’d swear they had disappeared. But no, the Lions series and last week’s Test proved they are clearly all still there, and still as passionate as ever. They were just waiting for something to cheer for. Now they have it.
Stay tuned, sports fans, this can only get better. (And for those who support the Cauliflower Club – which raises money for those grievously injured by sport – keep lunch on October 10 free. Details next week, but we’ve locked in Harry Wilson, and the Fullerton Hotel. Thank you.)
The times they were a-changing
As if.
As if, after that Wallabies performance against the Springboks last Saturday and with them playing again at Cape Town tonight, I could resist retelling my favourite Wallabies/Boks rugby story of all time!
See, the most famous time the Wallabies played in Cape Town was back in 1992, when, as the newly anointed world champions, they flew to South Africa for the first time in 23 years after the lifting of sanctions, upon Nelson Mandela having been released from prison, and apartheid crumbling ...
Accompanying the Wallabies was the late George Pippos, a famously acerbic Queenslander on the ARU board, not known for his diplomatic niceties. On their first night in the country, the struggling South African president FW de Klerk hosted the Wallabies at a barbecue in a gold mine.
“So,” Pippos asks the president, while munching on a sausage sandwich, “how many whitefellas do you have in this country?”
South African players walk on to the field before the match against Australia in Cape Town in 1992.Credit: Getty Images
“Around four million,” comes the reply.
Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.
“How many blackfellas?”
Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.
“Around 28 million,” De Klerk replies.
Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.
“Jeez … you’re f---ed.”
And so it proved!
Campo’s chickens home to roost
Bring it in tight, Campo. I’m here to help.
Some time ago, I told a mate I feared I had been so ill-disciplined in the Christmas to New Year period that I had put on a lot of weight, and was not happy about it.
“Your problem with your weight, Fitz, is not the Christmas to New Year period – it is New Year to Christmas.”
Bingo. A small light went on in my head, and since then, things have improved.
Ditto, Campo, your complaint about the abuse you received after your latest slur on the Wallaby coach and his charges blew up in your face.
David Campese: From goose-step to plain goose.Credit: Getty
You dare to complain about abuse? You?
Mate, if genius play was your magic stock-in-trade on the field, nasty abuse has been your tragic schlock to trade ever since, and never nastier than recently. When the Lions selectors called up coach Andy Farrell’s highly accomplished son Owen to the squad, you wrote that it was “a weak pick by Daddy.”
A “weak pick”? The bloke had played 118 Tests!
“By Daddy”? Do you think Andy Farrell was the sole selector?
It is the sheer nastiness of it that takes the breath away, the calculatedly hurtful nature of it – and you were made to look ridiculous by Farrell jnr’s subsequent brilliant performances.
As you were after saying Joe Schmidt was “clueless” about rugby – happily just before he pulled off the most extraordinary coaching achievement of his highly accomplished career.
In sum, Campo, complaining about the abuse you’ve received in the last week is rather beside the point. It is the abuse you have given out during the past few decades that is the real problem. Your genius on the field deserved a better legacy than your sad transition from being famous for the goose step to being an infamous goose.
Rank rotten
Ok, I give up.
Why did the AFL’s thing with Izak Rankine drag on for what seemed like months, and why such a cluster-ruck of carry-on? He uttered a homophobic slur during a match, as if we weren’t in – checks calendar – 2025. I know it’s unacceptable. You know it’s unacceptable. He knows it’s unacceptable. We had all that debate, what, ten years ago now? The matter’s been settled.
And Rankine, at least to his credit, acknowledged it, and apologised to the player concerned.
So? So, suspend him. No chat, no investigations, no oceans of newsprint spilt on a straightforward case. Three weeks, four weeks, thereabouts. The way the AFL has dealt with it has sucked most of the oxygen out of the game just as they go into the finals – all when the final result, a four-week suspension, was barely ever in doubt.
Tszyu what?
Yes, I know.
The weird story of the week belongs to the boxer Nikita Tszyu, who revealed his pre-bout diet includes his wife’s placenta, with her breast milk as a chaser. (Altogether after me: ewwwwwww.)
As to whether this actually makes him a stronger boxer, my long-time reader Joe Weller has the answer.
“Cue to the wise words of Merv Williams, former boxer and co-commentator on TV Ringside out of Melbourne in the mid-sixties,” he writes. “Merv was commentating when a Filipino boxer entered the ring and crossed himself ostentatiously in the corner, in the manner of a devout Catholic. Asked by his co-commentator if he thought that crossing themselves in this manner, actually helped boxers, Merv replied: ‘Only if the boxer can fight’.”
What They Said
TFF’s erstwhile colleague and friend, Andrew Webster, in a piece headlined “South Africa may be about to burst Wallabies’ undeserved bubble after Lions tour”: “Nothing can kick a rugby team from its high-horse like a hammering on the Highveld, and that’s the reality the Wallabies face against South Africa in Johannesburg in the wee small hours of Sunday morning.” Those of us who thought the Wallabies had turned a corner in the Lions series, were suffering “delusion.” He nevertheless had the good grace to fall on his sword and say he got it wrong after the staggering win. (RAH!)
David Campese – who said the coach Joe Schmidt was “clueless” as a coach – after the Wallabies triumph: “Don’t expect any comments from me from now on. I’m very passionate about the game. I say what I say – and I always have – but I think enough is enough. I’m sick of being abused by people. I’ve just decided to give everything rugby away from now on.”
What you get when you look up @DavidCampese11 on X: “This account doesn’t exist.” At least this is a nice change from my usual: “You’re blocked.”
But let’s hear from you, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, as to why your blokes lost, 38-22, after leading 22-0 after eighteen minutes: “We were really dogshit on the day.”
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon on Cameron McInnes badly injuring himself: “He’s OK, Cam. Cam’s emotional bank account has two cents in it. It’s like just nothing – point blank – ‘I’m good’.”
Warhorse: Cameron McInnes.Credit: Getty Images
LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau on wanting to play a PGA event before the Ryder Cup: “That’s up to the tour and their decision to make. It’s on them if they don’t let us become together as a team and play.” Jesus wept. The entitlement!
Bill Lawry on the late Bobby Simpson, his former opening partner: “Bobby was out there on the golf course, I was looking for pigeons. We didn’t spend time off the field. It’s a good thing. If you want to bat all day with someone, you won’t want to see them at night. We lived in different worlds.”
Collingwood Magpies coach Craig McRae after registering their fourth loss in five matches after just losing two of the previous sixteen: “We didn’t get the four points, but internally, we know we’re headed in the right direction.”
Famed soccer coach Pep Guardiola on his legacy: “I don’t care. Don’t remember me. Because when we die, when I am out of football, after one, two, three days, I will be forgotten ... It’s gone. Another [coach] is coming. And I’m over. Everyone is replaceable.”
Brisbane Bronco Pat Carrigan: “He’s done some really special things but at the end of the day, we just need Reece Walsh to be Reece Walsh.” If there was a choice, you’d do better to get him to be Wally Lewis, but still.
Australian boxer Nikita Tszyu on eating his wife’s placenta, in pill form, which he has to ration because of the limited supply: “I’ve got to wait until the next baby so I can get some more. I can’t just smash through them.”
English rugby player Zoe Aldcroft on England hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup: “This World Cup has the potential to change women’s rugby for ever. In England, over the last few years, we’ve been filling stadiums and this tournament will build momentum and so much excitement.”
Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge on the Sydney Marathon course: “If you see the pictures, if you see everything on the internet as far as Sydney is concerned, it is beautiful. The bridge, the beauty, how the roads are, I’m really looking forward to it. I believe Sydney will be the most beautiful course ever in this world.” Welcome, Mr Kipchoge. It’s an honour to have you in our fair city.
Team of the Week
The Wallaroos. Kick off their Rugby World Cup campaign later today against Samoa. Go you good thing-ettes!
The Wallabies. Take on South Africa again in Cape Town. Last week was South Africa’s first loss at home in The Rugby Championship since losing to New Zealand in 2022 and it was the first time that South Africa failed to score any points in the second half after first scoring points in the first half.
Western Bulldogs. Have forced their way into the top eight. Can they stay there?
Sydney Roosters. See above.
Scottie Scheffler. First player since Tiger Woods in 2007 to win at least five times on the PGA Tour in consecutive years. Meantime, does anyone know who is winning in LIV? My point, exactly.