AIC rugby has produced some of the Wallabies’ finest – how is this for a dream team?
The AIC rugby system has produced some of the Wallabies and Queensland’s finest players, a produced mighty club footballers. But who would make the AIC greatest ever First XV – with reserves?
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Think about these names when it comes to rugby.
Bob Honan, Dom Maguire, Paddy Batch, Des Ridley, Tyron Mandrusiak, Shane Draham, Dennis Owens and John Hoyland.
Now add in Richard Graham, Mick Barry, Graeme Bond, Alex Pope, Mick Crank, Anthony Anthony Mathison, Nick Frisby, Paddy Knapp, Christiaan Knapp, Brad Free and Nigel Kassulke.
What do they have in common?
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They are all elite AIC rugby producets who, despite their skills and achievements, miss selection in this AIC all-time dream side.
Then you have St Patrick’s College old boys like Lolo Fakaosilea and speedsters Jesse Mogg
Jeral Skelton while a host of league legends litter the AIC old boys ranks such as Eddies’s threesome Denis Flannery, Peter Gallagher, Noel Kelly, Cooper Cronk from Lauries, Iona old boys Graham Quinn, Chris McKenna and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Padua College alumni David Stagg, Paul Vautin, Paul McCabe and Dave Shillington.
So who made the AIC greatest ever First XV according to this author?
DREW MITCHELL (St Patrick’s College)
Powerful runner who was just as comfortable at fullback as he was on the wing. Dynamic in open play and a grand finisher in 71 Tests for the Wallabies. Mitchell’s blinding pace made him the talk of the AIC in year 11 and 12 at St Patrick’s where he was a fullback sensation. yer.
WING
JEFF MCLEAN (St Edmunds’s College)
A real speed merchant who was so fast, he was once considered for Australian selection as a 100m and 200m sprinter for the Commonwealth Games. A member of the famous Mclean family, McLean played 13 Test from the Brothers club and would have played many more had a broken leg not ended his career.
OUTSIDE CENTRE
ANDREW SLACK (Villanova Collegem captain)
A No.10 through school and initially at the Souths Magpies, Slack was ushered into his first state side at fly-half in 1975. It was the retirement of David L’estrange at outside centre which gave Slack the chance to establish himself in the Queensland midfield. A veteran of 39 Tests and 133 games for the Reds, Slack famously captained the Wallabies on the 1984 Grand Slam tour, and also to the 1986 Bledisloe Cup series win.
INSIDE CENTRE
DANIEL HERBERT (Marist College Ashgrove)
Daniel Herbert played most of his 67 Tests as an outside centre, but he was a teenage inside centre who amazingly scored a try with his first touch in Test rugby wearing the No. 12 jersey against Ireland in Sydney. His club coach Tony D’Arcy (GPS) ultimately believed his blinding acceleration and strong ball running would be better suited one position wider, which led to a decorated career at outside centre for Queensland and Australia.
WING
BRENDAN MOON (Marist College Ashgrove)
A picture perfect athlete with the balance of a tight rope walker and the athletic rhythm of a 400m champion. A Brothers winger, Moon was a magnificent athlete and one of the finest backs in world rugby at the peak of his powers.
FLY-HALF
PAUL MCLEAN (St Edmund’s College)
McLean is correctly linked with GPS powerhouse St Joseph’s Nudgee College, but the fact is he only attended Nudgee for one year – in year 12. Prior to that McLean was schooled at St Edmund’s and grew up in Ipswich as primarily a league player. With silken skills, a unique game sense and a wonderful tactical kicking game, McLean was at home at either fullback or fly-half.
HALFBACK
DENNIS CONNER (Marist College Ashgrove, vice-captain)
Is Des Connor the greatest AIC player of all time?
Younger readers will be stunned to learn that Connor, a scrum half, was the first ever person to play for Australia and the All Blacks – and then returned to Australia to coach the Wallabies. With supreme halfback skills and a reverse pass to boot, Connor played a dozen Tests for the Wallabies before his teaching career led him to New Zealand where he played another 12 Tests for his adopted country – all as vice-captain.
NO. 8
SAM SCOTT-YOUNG
Marist College Ashgrove old boy and former Queensland and Australian coach John Connolly was once asked to sum up the career of 7-Test veteran Sam Scott-Young. “Brave’’ was his reply. Indeed if you were to pick one player to play for your life, you would be comfortable with the choice of Sam Scott-Young. Tough, brave and a wonderful addition to any side.
FLANKER
CHARLES WILSON (Marist College Ashgrove)
A real Mr Rugby who old-timers describe as a classic breakaway with ample speed who put his body on the line. He also managed the Australian tour to NZ in 1982, to Italy and France in 1983, and the famous ‘Grand Slam’ tour of 1984 skippered by Andrew Slack who has been named captain of this AIC team (see above).
FLANKER
BILL MCLEAN (St Laurence’s College)
A member of the famous Mclean family who, after surviving the rigours of World War II, played five Test matches. Mclean made his state debut in 1939 but when war broke out, he volunteered for service and saw action as a captain in the 2/3 Australian Commando Squadron. He resumed his rugby career for the GPS club in 1946 and went on to earn five Test caps before breaking his leg.
LOCK
JOHN EALES (Marist College Ashgrove)
Famously nicknamed Nobody because nobody is perfect, the Marist College Ashgrove old boy was simply the complete player. A second rower who could play No. 8 with ease, Eales had the best hands in the business, was an inspiring leader both with words and through his actions, and he was also a top notch goal kicker. His long strides even generated enough pace to produce try-saving tackles, as he did in the 1991 World Cup.
LOCK
MARK CONNORS (St Laurence’s College)
A magnificent backrower, Connors could play No. 8 or blindside flanker, but was versatile enough to fill in at lock as well. He was a wonderfully gifted all-rounder from St Laurence’s College, a forward with beautiful hands, natural agility around the field and also as safe as a bank in the lineout.
PROP
NEIL BETTS (St Laurence’s College)
Tiny Betts was entitled to have his body creak a little as his years progressed, so earnest was he in the scrum for Queensland. For the best part of a decade during the 1950s Betts was the foundation of the Queensland set piece, where he forged a wonderful partnership with his hooker Nev Cotrell.
HOOKER
NEV COTRELL (St Laurence’s College)
Neil Bett’s front row partner in so many skirmishes, Cotrell toured with Trevor Allan’s Wallabies to New Zealand in 1949, winning the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in New Zealand. The following year Cotrell then had the distinction of captaining the Wallabies against the British Lions.
PROP
DAN CROWLEY (St Laurence’s College)
Dan Crowley stood at just 5ft 9 inches, but he was a giant of Queensland rugby. A remarkable survivor at the highest level, the St Laurence’s College old boy ploughed through 124 matches for his beloved Queensland, and 55 Tests between 1989 and 1999. He always gave away weight and size to more grizzly front row opponents, but he had a remarkable technique, toughness and tenacity. For years he was the spiritual leader of the Queensland pack.
RESERVES
BRENDAN CANNON (St Laurence’s College)
Cannon was a magnificent schoolboy No. 8 who took his rugged, ball running skills and hurtful defence into the tight five after successfully transitioning to hooker. A real beast when he carried the ball, Cannon added an extra dimension to the Wallaby forward pack.
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BEN MOWEN (Villanova College)
A school prodigy, Mowen won his first Test cap as a starting blindside flanker in 2013 and played all 15 Tests that season, including leading the Wallabies against Argentina in Perth.
GARRICK MORGAN (Marist College Ashgrove)
Morgan was a huge man with an even bigger heart whose devastating ball-running was put to good use by Queensland coach John Connolly. Morgan learned his trade next to the great John Eales and at one stage was rated the finest forward in world rugby.
MICK FLYNN (Marist College Ashgrove)
Tremendous utility forward who could play lock, flanker and prop for both club and state. He represented Queensland between 1969 and 1978 and although he did not play a Test, he was a great enhancement to Wallaby touring sides.
DAVID L’ESTRANGE (Marist College Ashgrove)
Sublime attacking player who was a fullback sensation under the coaching of Marist First XV coach, Brother Terry Curley. However, once in club land, he was best used as an outside centre.
ANTHONY HERBERT (Marist College Ashgrove)
Magnificent schoolboy centre and fullback whose toughness was renowned. Marist old boy John Connolly ushered Herbert (outside centre) and Padua College old boy Dom Maguire (inside centre) into his Queensland team for the 1989 and 1990 seasons when he looked to re-establish Queensland after disappointing seasons in 1987 and 1988. With unbreakable defence, gallant midfield running and bravery at the breakdown enabling the backrowers to recycle possession, Herbert and Maguire were the perfect pairing for the rebuild. Herbert was also a grand team man who was a fixture in Queensland or Wallaby touring sides.
BARRY HONAN (Marist College Ashgrove)
Mr versatility whose skills across the backline knew no bounds. Honan, a state player aged just 18, was so skilled he played Test football as an inside centre, left wing, fullback and outside centre. A prolific talent with vision and pace, Honan also had a fantastic tackling technique whose career was sadly cut short by injury.
PAT HOWARD (Marist College Ashgrove)
Howard was a beautiful ball player capable of playing equally well at fly-half or inside centre, although was best suited in the No.12 jumper. Splendid footballer who though pass or run before kick.