1981–82 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland

none March 2014 December 2020 Australia 1981 1982 23 16 1 6 4 1 0 3 IRE 1 1 0 0 WAL 1 0 0 1 SCO 1 0 0 1 ENG 1 0 0 1 The 1981–82 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland was a series of matches played by the Australia national rugby union team (nicknamed the Wallabies). The touring team played twenty-three matches between October 1981 and January 1982, winning sixteen games, drawing one and losing six. The scheduled final game, against the Barbarians, was cancelled due to heavy snow. The team played four international matches but were successful in only one, against Ireland. The Wallabies subsequently lost to Wales, Scotland and England. Although they scored more tries than their opponents in each of the four internationals, the home teams' goal-kicking proved more reliable in every case. Outside the international programme, the Wallabies won only once in their opening four matches. They lost to the English Midlands Division in the opening match, were held to a draw by the English Northern Division in the third match and lost to Bridgend in the fourth match. They then beat Wales B (the national second-tier side) by a single point in the next game. The sixth game brought a much better performance with a 37–6 win over Pontypool. Their form improved somewhat after that and they lost only one of the remaining thirteen non-international matches, to Munster in Cork. The tour experience would prove invaluable however for a number of young players who in 1984 would lead the Wallabies to a Grand Slam tour victory. Mark Ella, Steve Williams, Simon Poidevin, Andrew Slack, Brendan Moon, Michael Hawker and Roger Gould filled Australia with hope during their 1981-82 tour, providing a preview of its eventual coming of age as a world-class rugby nation.Shehadie p175 2 The squad's leadership The tour manager was Sir Nicholas Shehadie a 30 Test veteran and former Wallaby captain. He was at the time Chairman of the New South Wales Rugby Union and President of Australian Rugby Union. He had recently stepped down after fifteen years in local government public office including three years as the 75th Lord Mayor of Sydney. The coach was Bob Templeton. Tour captain was Tony Shaw, the first Queenslander since Bill McLean in 1947–48 to captain Australia in the UK. Shaw would later marry McLean's daughter and made the 81–82 tour alongside Bill's son Peter and nephew Paul. Mark Loane would captain the side in the Test against England when Shaw was dropped from the team following the Scottish Test. Shaw had retaliated recklessly to niggling from Scotland player Bill Cuthbertson with a king-hit right in front of the referee. Shaw was to pay dearly for this as it would mark the end of his Test captaincy career.Howell p207 The tour The tour was dogged by appalling weather: cold, rain and snow. The Australian players brought up on firm, fast playing surfaces were shackled in ankle-deep mud. After a training mishap hooker Bruce Malouf returned home with a broken leg without having played a match. Veteran half-back John Hipwell missed many games through persistent injuries. So much had been expected of the Wallaby side and following the tour many reasons were offered up to explain the disappointing result of one international won from the four played. It was said that Paul McLean's kicking was not up to his usual standard; that the scrum lacked size and power; that Tony Shaw showed his pique in felling Cuthbertson and that the loss of Hipwell was a blow. Regardless of the reasons some bad luck was evident in the cancellation of the Barbarian clash due to heavy snow caused by the 1981–82 United Kingdom cold wave and perhaps symptomatic of much ill-luck on the tour. The journalist David Lord, who travelled with the squad, wrote venomously of a Queensland-New South Wales player rift in the team which if even half-true must have affected team morale.Howell p232 Matches Scores and results list Australia's points tally first. DateOpponentLocationResultScoreMatch 117 OctoberMidland DivisionWelford Road Stadium, LeicesterLost10–16Match 221 OctoberOxford UniversityIffley Road, OxfordWon19–12Match 324 OctoberNorthern DivisionCounty Ground, GosforthDrew6–6Match 428 OctoberBridgendBrewery Field, BridgendLost9–12Match 531 OctoberWALNational Stadium, CardiffWon10–9Match 64 NovemberPontypoolPontypool Park, PontypoolWon37–6Match 77 NovemberLondon DivisionTwickenham Stadium, LondonWon25–14Match 811 NovemberDevon and CornwallCounty Ground Stadium, ExeterWon49–6Match 914 NovemberUlsterRavenhill Stadium, BelfastWon12–6Match 1017 NovemberMunsterMusgrave Park, CorkLost6–15Match 1121 NovemberIRELansdowne Road, DublinWon16–12Match 1225 NovemberLeicesterWelford Road Stadium, LeicesterWon18–15Match 1328 NovemberSwanseaSt. Helen's, SwanseaWon12–3Match 141 DecemberPontypriddSardis Road, PontypriddWon6–3Match 155 DecemberWALNational Stadium, CardiffLost13–18Match 169 DecemberLancashireVale of Lune RUFC, LancasterWon22–6Match 1712 DecemberGlasgowMurrayfield Stadium, EdinburghWon31–0Match 1815 DecemberScottish North and MidlandsLinksfield Stadium, AberdeenWon36–6Match 1919 DecemberSCOMurrayfield Stadium, EdinburghLost15–24Match 2022 DecemberSouth and South-West DivisionKingsholm Stadium, GloucesterWon16–3Match 2129 DecemberCombined ServicesAldershotWon33–9Match 222 JanuaryENGTwickenham Stadium, LondonLost11–15Match 235 JanuaryWest WalesStradey Park, LlanelliWon19–3Match 249 JanuaryBarbariansNational Stadium, CardiffMatch cancelled Test matches Ireland 21 November 1981 IRE 12–16 AUS Report (12 – 4pg) Ward O'Connor (4 – 1t) Gould (3 – 1fg) McLean (9 – 3pg) Lansdowne Road, Dublin 54,000http://www.espn.co.uk/australiatour/rugby/match/21441.html Ireland v Australia at Lansdowne Road ESPN 31 December 2013 Brian Anderson (SRU) Australia's victory was based on a magnificent defensive display. Ireland's front five won more ball than Australia but Australia's tackling and speed to the loose ball proved decisive. Paul McLean opened the scoring with an 11th-minute penalty goal and Roger Gould doubled the lead soon after with a dropped goal. McLean extended the lead to 9–0 with a further penalty before Tony Ward's penalty goal finally put Ireland on the board. Just before half-time McLean's third penalty put Australia 12–3 ahead. Ward cut the lead to 12–6 with a second penalty but O'Connor scored the only try of the game to make it 16–6 to Australia. Ward reduced their lead again with two more penalties but Australia hung on to win 16–12.Rothmans p23-24 AUSTRALIA: Roger Gould, Michael O'Connor, Andrew Slack, Michael Hawker, Brendan Moon, Paul McLean, John Hipwell, John Meadows, Chris Carberry, Tony D'Arcy, Tony Shaw (c), Peter McLean, Simon Poidevin, Greg Cornelsen, Mark Loane. IRELAND: Hugo MacNeill, Trevor Ringland, David Irwin, Paul Dean, Terry Kennedy, Tony Ward, Robbie McGrath, Phil Orr, John Cantrell, Mick Fitzpatrick, Brendan Foley, Donal Lenihan, John O'Driscoll, Fergus Slattery (c), Willie Duggan Wales 5 December 1981 WAL 18–13 AUS Report (4 – 1t) Moriarty (3 – 1fg) Davies (11 – 3pg, 1g) Evans M. Cox (4 – 1t) Slack (4 – 1t) McLean (5 – 1pg, 1g) Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff 56,000http://www.espn.co.uk/australiatour/rugby/match/21446.html Wales v Australia at Cardiff ESPN 31 December 2013 John West (IRFU) Australia scored two tries to Wales's one but were beaten by a powerful performance by the Welsh pack, in which new cap Moriarty was outstanding. Goal-kicking was a significant difference between the two teams, with Paul McLean missing four of his six kicks at goal. Gwyn Evans opened the scoring with a penalty goal for Wales with Paul McLean equalising in kind soon after. Slack then scored a try after Holmes had been bundled off the ball after incorrectly calling for a mark, although McLean failed to convert. Evans scored a second penalty to make the half-time score 7–6 to Australia. In the second half, Mitchell Cox scored a try in the corner with McLean converting to make it 13–6. Wales replied almost immediately with a try from Moriarty after a 30-metre run from Rees and Evans' conversion made the score 13–12. Davies, captaining Wales for the first time, dropped a goal to put Wales ahead 15–13 before Evans' third penalty goal made the final score 18–13.Rothmans p25-26 AUSTRALIA: Roger Gould, Mitchell Cox, Andrew Slack (c), Michael Hawker (rep Mick Martin 48 min), Brendan Moon, Paul McLean, John Hipwell (rep Phillip Cox 65 min), Tony D'Arcy, Chris Carberry, Declan Curran, Tony Shaw (c), Peter McLean, Simon Poidevin, Greg Cornelsen, Mark Loane. WALES: Gwyn Evans, Robert Ackerman, Pat Daniels, Alun Donovan, Clive Rees, Gareth Davies (c), Terry Holmes, Ian Stephens, Alan Phillips, Graham Price, Richard Moriarty, Geoff Wheel, Mark Davies, Gareth Williams, Jeff Squire Scotland 19 December 1981 SCO 24–15 AUS (4 – 1t) Renwick (3 – 1fg) Rutherford (17 – 5pg,1g) Irvine Moon (4 – 1t) Poidevin (4 – 1t) Slack (4 – 1t) McLean (3 – 1pg) Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 39,213http://www.espn.co.uk/australiatour/rugby/match/21447.html Scotland v Australia at Murrayfield ESPN 31 December 2013 Roger Quittenton (RFU) Disaster struck in the Scotland Test for Wallaby captain Tony Shaw. He was questioning referee Quittenton when the Scottish lock Bill Cuthbertson kept niggling him. Shaw turned and hit Cuthbertson with a right, flooring him in front of the referee and the TV cameras. That moment marked the end of his Wallaby captaincy. Australia scored three tries, all in the first half, to Scotland's one, but were beaten largely due to the fine goal-kicking of Andy Irvine, who scored a then-record 17 points for Scotland. Irvine scored three consecutive penalty goals to put Scotland 9–0 up but his charged-down kick allowed Poidevin to score an unconverted try. A second unconverted try for Moon followed, bringing the scores to 9–8, before Slack's try put Australia ahead for the first time at 12–9. McLean and Irvine traded penalties to make the score 15–12 to the Wallabies at half-time. Irvine levelled the scores at the start of the second half with his fifth penalty goal and Rutherford's dropped goal put Scotland back in the lead. Gould's failure to gather Rutherford's kick and a kindly bounce gave a try to Renwick near the posts which Irvine converted to give Scotland their 24–15 win. The game was clean apart from the Shaw-Cuthbertson incident.Rothmans p27-28 AUSTRALIA: Roger Gould, Mitchell Cox, Andrew Slack, Paul McLean, Brendan Moon, Mark Ella, Phillip Cox, John Meadows, Chris Carberry, Tony D'Arcy, Tony Shaw (c), Peter McLean, Simon Poidevin, Greg Cornelsen, Mark Loane. SCOTLAND: Andy Irvine (c), Keith Robertson, Jim Renwick, David Johnston, Roger Baird, John Rutherford, Roy Laidlaw, Jim Aitken, Colin Deans, Iain Milne, Bill Cuthbertson, Alan Tomes, Jim Calder, David Leslie, Iain Paxton England 2 January 1982 ENG 15–11 AUS (4 – 1t) Jeavons (2 – 1g) Dodge (9 – 3pg) Rose Moon (8 – 2t) McLean (3 – 1pg) Twickenham Stadium, London 60,000http://www.espn.co.uk/australiatour/rugby/match/21463.html England v Australia at Twickenham ESPN 31 December 2013 Alun Richards (WRU) For the fourth time in as many internationals, Australia scored more tries than their opponents but were beaten by superior goal-kicking. The England pack gave a powerful display with an outstanding performance by Colclough. Rose's two early penalty goals, with one by Paul McLean in between, gave England a 6–3 lead at half-time. Moon then scored after a loose ball was hacked downfield by the backs to put Australia 7–6 ahead going into the final quarter of the match, although McLean failed to convert. When Mark Ella was caught near his own line the England forwards drove on and Jeavons scored from the maul. Dodge kicked the conversion to put England 12–7 up. Rose extended the lead to 15–7 with his third penalty goal before Moon scored his second try, near the corner. McLean missed with the kick (his fourth miss from five attempts at goal) but it was too late to affect the final result, 15–11 to England.Rothmans p 28-29 The match was also notable for the half-time appearance of the streaker, Erika Roe. Australia: Paul McLean, Michael O'Connor, Andrew Slack (c), Michael Hawker, Brendan Moon, Mark Ella, John Hipwell, John Meadows, Chris Carberry, Tony D'Arcy, Steve Williams, Peter McLean, Simon Poidevin, Greg Cornelsen, Mark Loane (c). England: Marcus Rose, John Carleton, Clive Woodward, Paul Dodge, Mike Slemen (rep Nick Stringer 63 min), Huw Davies, Steve Smith, Colin Smart, Peter Wheeler, Gary Pearce, Bill Beaumont (c), Maurice Colclough, Nick Jeavons, Peter Winterbottom, Bob Hesford Other matches Midland Division collapsed 17 October 1981 Midland Division 16–10 AUS Welford Road Stadium, Leicester Clive Norling Holdstock, Jeavons Moon Rose Rose (2) Paul McLean (2) Oxford University 22 October 1981 Oxford University 12–19 AUS Iffley Road, Oxford Brian Anderson Wyatt Roche (2), Grigg, Gary Ella Barnes Barnes (2) Mark Ella Northern Division 24 October 1981 Northern Division 6–6 AUS County Ground, Gosforth Ken Rowlands Spaven Slemen Paul McLean (2) Bridgend 28 October 1981 Bridgend 12–9 AUS Brewery Field, Bridgend David Burnett Meadows Hawker Pearce (4) Mark Ella Wales B 31 October 1981 WAL Wales B 9–10 AUS National Stadium, Cardiff Laurie Prideaux Moon, Slack Paul McLean Wyatt (2) Dacey Pontypool 4 November 1981 Pontypool 6–37 AUS Pontypool Park, Pontypool Roger Quittenton Martin (2), Cornelsen, Shaw, Slack Paul McLean (4) Lewis (2) Paul McLean (2) Paul McLean London Division 7 November 1981 London Division 14–25 AUS Twickenham Stadium, London McGregor, Bailey Moon (2), Mark Ella Ella, Paul McLean Greenhalgh (2) Paul McLean (2), Mark Ella Devon and Cornwall 11 November 1981 Devon and Cornwall 6-49 AUS County Ground Stadium, Exeter G. Inglis Moon (3), Parker (2), M. Cox, D'Arcy, Slack Paul McLean (7) Martin (2) Paul McLean Ulster 14 November 1981 Ulster 6-12 AUS Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast W. Jones Paul McLean Paul McLean Goodrich (2) Paul McLean (2) Munster 17 November 1981 Munster 15-6 AUS Musgrave Park, Cork Alan Welsby Derham Grigg Ward O'Connor Ward (2) Ward Leicester 25 November 1981 Leicester 15-18 AUS Welford Road Stadium, Leicester M. D. M. Rea Martin Paul McLean Hare (2) Hare (2), Cusworth Paul McLean (3) Mark Ella Swansea 28 November 1981 Swansea 3-12 AUS St. Helen's, Swansea John West Gould, M. Cox, Moon Dacey Pontypridd 1 December 1981 Pontypridd 3-6 AUS Sardis Road, Pontypridd Tony Trigg Hodgkinson Mark Ella (2) Lancashire 9 December 1981 Lancashire 6-22 AUS Powder House Lane, Lancaster A. Richards Mathers, M. Cox, Loane Paul McLean (2) O'Brien (2) Paul McLean Mark Ella Glasgow 12 December 1981 Glasgow 0-31 AUS Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Colin High Glen Ella (2), Lucas (2), Mark Ella, Grigg, Martin Mark Ella Scottish North and Midlands 15 December 1981 North and Midlands 6-36 AUS Linksfield Stadium, Aberdeen Fred Howard Grigg (4), Roche, Gould Paul McLean (3) Irvine (2) Paul McLean (2) South and South-West Division 22 December 1981 South and South-West Division 3-16 AUS Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester K. C. Parfitt Mark Ella, Martin, Lucas Mark Ella (2) Horton Combined Services 29 December 1981 Combined Services 9-33 AUS Aldershot A. Fisher Mark Ella (2), Moon, Meadows, Peter McLean, Cornelsen Gould (5) Price (3) Gould West Wales 5 January 1982 West Wales 3–19 AUS Stradey Park, Llanelli M. J. Morgan M. Cox, Martin, Mark Ella Gould (2) Evans Gould Barbarians Touring party Tour manager: Sir Nicholas Shehadie Coach : Bob Templeton Captain: Tony Shaw Squad Tour appearances include appearances as a replacement, which are shown in brackets e.g. (1R) Name Tests Test matches played during the tour Club Career caps Total number of caps earned during the player's career Tour apps Games played on tour Position Tour pts Points scored during the tour Roger Gould rugby union 3 Wests Brisbane 25 12 Full back 31 Glen Ella 0 Randwick RUFC 4 7 Full back 8 Andrew Slack 4 Brisbane Souths 39 17 (2R) Three-quarter 20 Brendan Moon 4 Brisbane Brothers 35 16 (1R) Three-quarter 48 Mick Martin rugby union 1 Parramatta Two Blues 6 13 (1R) Three-quarter 24 Peter Grigg 0 Cities – Townsville 25 13 Three-quarter 28 Gary Ella 0 Randwick RUFC 6 5 Three-quarter 4 Michael O'Connor rugby 2 Brisbane Norths 12 9 Three-quarter 6 Michael Hawker 3 Sydney University 25 12 (1R) Three-quarter 2 Mitchell Cox Mitchell Cox (rugby, born 1958) 1 Manly RUFC 2 12 (1R) Three-quarter 20 Mark Ella 2 Randwick RUFC 25 14 Half 50 Paul McLean rugby union 4 Brisbane Brothers 30 15 (1R) Half 118 John Hipwell 3 Newcastle Waratahs 36 7 Half 0 Phillip Cox rugby union 2 Manly RUFC 16 8 (1R) Half 0 Anthony Parker rugby union 0 University of Queensland 3 10 (1R) Half 8 Simon Poidevin 4 University of NSW 59 13 Forward 4 Peter McLean Peter McLean (rugby union) 4 Easts Brisbane 16 12 Forward 4 Tony Shaw rugby (c) 3 Brisbane Brothers 36 14 Forward 4 Mark Loane 4 University of Queensland 28 17 Forward 4 Stan Pilecki 0 Wests Brisbane 18 9 Forward 0 Greg Cornelsen 4 Brisbane Norths 25 11 Forward 8 Tony D'Arcy rugby union 3 Brisbane Brothers 10 15 (1R) Forward 4 John Meadows rugby union 2 Wests Brisbane 22 12 Forward 8 Chris Carberry 4 GPS Brisbane 13 12 Forward 0 Steve Williams rugby union, born 1958 1 Manly RUFC 28 12 (1R) Forward 0 Bruce Malouf 0 Randwick RUFC 1 0 Forward 0 Chris Roche 0 Brisbane Norths 17 12 Forward 12 Lance Walker 0 Parramatta Two Blues 2 10 (1R) Forward 0 Declan Curran 1 Sydney University 5 11 Forward 0 Duncan Hall Duncan Hall Jr. 0 University of Queensland 15 11 Forward 0 Peter Lucas rugby union 0 St George Rugby Union 3 8 Forward 12 Mick Mathers 0 Eastwood Rugby Club 2 9 (1R) Forward 4 References 30em Sources Howell, Max (2005) Born to Lead – Wallaby Test Captains, Celebrity Books, Auckland NZ Shehadie, Nicholas (2003) A Life Worth Living, Simon & Schuster Australia Jenkins Vivian Vivian Jenkins Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1982–83 1983 Rothmans Publications Ltd 0-907574-13-0 Category:1981 rugby union tours Category:1982 rugby union tours 1981-82 1981-82 1981-82 1981-82 1981-82 Category:1981 in Australian rugby union Category:1982 in Australian rugby union Category:1981–82 in European rugby union Category:1981–82 in English rugby union Category:1981–82 in Welsh rugby union Category:1981–82 in Scottish rugby union Category:1981–82 in Irish rugby union Category:November 1981 sports events in Europe Category:December 1981 sports events in Europe Category:January 1982 sports events in Europe Category:October 1981 sports events in Europe