Wallabies v Springboks: The five best Tests at Allianz Stadium
Allianz Stadium — the new Sydney Football Stadium — has always been a happy place for the Wallabies. Here’s a look at the five greatest tests at the venue, ahead of the Springboks clash.
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The old stadium was like a fortress to the men in green and gold, who won a staggering 73 per cent of their Test matches at the Moore Park venue over a stunningly successful 29-year period.
Not only that, but the old stadium was the scene of some of the greatest moments in Australian rugby history, which the sport’s long suffering fans hope will be rekindled when the doors of the new ground are flung open this weekend.
FIVE GREATEST RUGBY TESTS AT THE SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM
1. 1998 – BEAT NEW ZEALAND 19-14
After winning the first two Tests to regain the Bledisloe Cup from New Zealand after four years, the Wallabies were eyeing their first clean sweep over the All Blacks since 1929 when they squared off in the third and final match.
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Down 11-0 after the Kiwis made a flying start and Matthew Burke’s normally super-reliable boot was off target, the Wallabies defied the odds with a second half comeback for the ages in front of a packed house.
With skipper John Eales taking over the kicking duties to get Australia back in the game, Burke scored the match winning try near the death – hitting the turf with such a thud that he ripped his shoulder clean out of the socket.
2. 1994 – BEAT NEW ZEALAND 20-16
This match will forever be remembered for George Gregan’s unforgettable jolting tackle on Jeff Wilson.
Gregan had already played three low key tests for the Wallabies, against Italy and Samoa, but his last-gasp try-saver on Wilson catapulted him to instant national hero.
After trailing from the outset, the All Blacks looked certain to steal victory at the bell when Wilson broke free down the right wing, beating two defenders before diving over the line.
But right at the same time, Gregan flung himself at Wilson with such force that he dislodged the ball from his arms, sealing Australia’s win with what has rightly become one of the most famous tackles in rugby history.
3. 1989 – LOST TO BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS 19-18
There’s been plenty of highlights at the SFS but this was one of the heartbreaking moments for Australian rugby.
The Wallabies first ever Test at the SFS was the 1989 series opener against the Lions – which the Australians won comfortably 30-12.
When the Lions won the second Test in Brisbane, everything came down to the third Test, back in Sydney.
At that time, the Wallabies had never won a series against the Lions and looked to be heading to a historic triumph when they led 12-9 in the second half before disaster struck.
A catastrophic mix up between David Campese and Greg Martin behind the Australian goal line gifted a try to Welsh winger Iuean Evans that ultimately decided the series.
4. 1993 – BEAT SOUTH AFRICA 19-12
Returning to Australia for the first time since the infamous 1971 tour, which was heavily disrupted by anti-apartheid protests, the Springboks were determined to show the world they could back to their winning ways after returning from isolation.
Captained by Francois Pienaar, the Boks won the opening match of the three game series 19-12 at Allianz Stadium but the then world champion Wallabies won the second test in Brisbane to send the series to a third and deciding Test back in Sydney.
In a seesawing finale, Tim Horan scored Australia’s only try of the decider as fullback Marty Roebuck booted a conversion and four penalties to steer the Wallabies to a famous series win.
4. 1991 – BEAT ENGLAND 40-15
This wasn’t the closest match ever played at Moore Park but for Wallaby fans, it was one of the sweetest because it was an afternoon romp in the park against the old enemy.
The Poms arrived in Australia full of confidence after completing the Five Nations Grand Slam but were absolutely demolished by a red-hot Wallabies team led by David Campese, who scored two of Australia’s five tries.
Australia’s points total and margin were both records against England at the time and laid the foundations for the Wallabies’ first World Cup win at Twickenham later that year, when they beat England again.
Boks not happy with Wallabies break from rugby’s moral code
—Julian Linden
The Wallabies must know they have really overstepped the line when they start getting lectured to by the Springboks about fair play.
It’s not too often that the South Africans claim the moral high ground on the rugby field but they are this time after Nic White’s cynical play-acting saw Faf de Klerk sin binned for a harmless slap on the Australian halfback in Adelaide last weekend.
Although he didn’t break any laws, if White had been a lower grade club player he probably would have been dragged straight from the pitch and made to buy every player on both teams a beer for breaching the sport’s unofficial code of honour, whereby players vow never to take dives or feign injuries.
That deceitful tactic might be tolerated in soccer but should never be welcome in rugby – even at a time when the game’s clueless law makers seem hellbent on eliminating the gladiatorial aspect of the great game with their nanny rule changes.
One of the good guys in international rugby, White has already copped plenty of ribbing for his brain snap while inspiring a flood of memes rekindling the Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars incident.
White was heckled by South African supporters as he prepared to board his departing flight at Adelaide domestic airport and has been roasted on social media by past Springboks, who have labelled his theatrics as “an embarrassment”, “a disgrace” and accusing him of “killing a piece of rugby’s soul.”
They do have a point because it does go against the sport’s culture and the Wallabies are always the first to cry foul whenever they fall victim to pedantic refereeing or dubious tactics, though they have all suddenly changed their tune and gone into bat for the whistleblowers when asked to call out one of their own.
Still, the Wallabies are not the only ones in the game who have been accused of backflipping around the grey areas of fair play when it suits them.
Rugby is dangerous! You should be thankful for every close encounter you survive pic.twitter.com/vlReuYX7lw
— Radioraps (Rikus de Beer) (@RadioRaps) August 28, 2022
The Springboks have a long rap sheet of dirty tactics that have irked plenty of their opponents over the years, including the Wallabies.
Former players and coaches have in the past accused some Springboks of all manner of dirty deeds, including head butts, grabbing testicles, spitting, biting and eye gouging.
The South Africans have also been accused of time wasting, illegal scrum tactics, and even killing the game as a spectacle with their boring forward-dominated kicking game – even if it has produced three World Cup titles.
Not that any of the criticism worries the Boks, who have long been masters of finding fresh ways to motivate themselves and deflect from other problems when the chips are down.
Facing intense criticism after being blown off the park by one of the least intimidating Wallabies teams in decades, you can bet your bottom dollar the Boks will bring it up again before next week’s return Test in Sydney.
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Originally published as Wallabies v Springboks: The five best Tests at Allianz Stadium