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"Gifted", "Mercurial", "Outspoken", "Eccentric" "Spectacular" - the list could go on forever. These are just a small selection of the many adjectives used to describe David Ian Campese, arguably Australia's greatest ever back. "Campo" was an unknown 19 year old working in a sawmill when his career began in 1982, and by the time he retired fourteen years later, he was a millionaire, the proud possessor of 101 caps, a world record 64 tries and the most recognisable and bemedalled player in the game. Quite simply, David was one of the finest all-round footballers that Australia has produced, known most for his phenomenal try scoring ratio and his trademark move "The Goosestep" - a technique that fooled opponents into thinking he was slowing down when in fact he was speeding up. Unfortunately, for all his contribution to the Wallaby cause during the 80s and 90s, Campo probably had as many detractors as he had supporters, mainly due to his outspoken ways and his occasional tendency to place personal needs ahead of those of the team. Heralding from the small town of Queanbeyan near Canberra, Campese was originally a Rugby League man, but switched codes during his late teens. His call up to the full Australian side came partly as the result of a mass walkout by Queensland players on the eve of the 1982 tour of New Zealand, but also due to his outstanding performance at full back in an under 19s test against the All Black colts just prior to a key selection meeting. His opponent in the first test at Christchurch was none other than the legendary Stu Wilson, a player who Campo had earlier incensed by claiming never to have heard of. The match was lost 23-16, but David made his mark in a memorable way, outfoxing Wilson on numerous occasions and scoring an opportunist try late on. He would go on to play in the second and third tests as well, scoring another try in the second match. The series eventually went the All Blacks way, but David Campese had arrived. The 1983 season was a mixed one for Campo after the successes of 1982.
The high point was undoubtedly his four try salvo against the USA in Brisbane, but his performance as a goalkicker, particularly in the Bledisloe Cup encounter, was decidedly erratic. David did however have the honour of helping Australia to their second Hong Kong Sevens title in a row with victory over Fiji and he produced dazzling combinations with the Ella brothers. However, the year of 1984 was when it really all took off. Australia were now being coached by the visionary Alan Jones, a former teacher whose strategies echoed those of Dave Brockhoff ten years previously - an expansive running game supported by disciplined forward play. Playing in tandem with his soulmate Mark Ella, Campo thrived under the new regime, and sent the crowds into raptures when he toured the UK for the first time in the Autumn. The Wallabies played a brand of rugby never seen before and achieved what would have been considered impossible in the dark days of the early seventies - a Grand Slam of victories over the home nations. Indeed, not only were the Australians light years ahead of their British brothers in terms of backplay, but they now dominated up front as well, most notably demonstrated with their pushover try against Wales in Cardiff. The campaign ended in memorable style with a crushing victory over the Scots at Murrayfield, with Campese scoring his only test try of the tour. Another highly memorable moment came in the Barbarians match when David scored a brilliant try from his own half, humiliating Welsh centre Robert Ackerman with his speed and trickery. This after Ackerman had told Alan Jones after the Welsh test that he didn't rate Australia's backline! 1985 was much quieter for David and he only played in one test due to injury. (Jon Collins)
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