Jason LITTLE

Jason Little was one half of the much vaunted Horan-Little centre partnership that bestrode the world game for the best part of a decade. In total, Jason won 75 caps between 1989 and 2000, three-quarters of which were won in tandem with his old buddy from the Darling Downs. From the earliest days when the two played alongside each other as schoolboys, through to the dizzy heights of World Championship glory in 1991 and 1999, Jason's career mirrored that of his old friend. On the field the players were different in style and stature - whereas Tim was a nuggety, compact powerhouse, Jason was the lithe, long striding gazelle who had the look and speed of an Olympic sprinter. Both however were blessed with superb defensive ability, and this was a major factor in Australia's first World Cup victory in 1991. Jason's debut came in 1989 against France, just one match after Horan had first appeared for Australia. In the hours before the game Jason confessed to being incredibly nervous, but reckoned that come the match itself that fact that he was only 19 allowed him play in a more uninhibited fashion.

The melding of youth and experience proved crucial in Australia's world cup campaign as Tim, Jason and John Eales ably supported old hands like Campese, Lynagh, Farr-Jones and Poidevin. Australia's opponents in the final were England who surprised the Wallabies by attempting to win with ball in hand. England skipper Will Carling later admitted that Jason had been identified as a possible weak link in the Australian side and had instructed his players to run at the youngster. Carling's theory was proved very wrong indeed as time and again Jason hurled rampaging English steers to the Twickenham turf. The match was won 12-6, and Jason had pocketed a World Cup medal at just 20 years of age. (Jon Collins)

In 1992 Jason added victory in the Bledisloe Cup to his World Championship medal and then participated in the 26-3 win over South Africa later in the year. The following year South Africa were again the opponents and the three match series proved to be a significant point in Jason's career. In the second test at Ballymore he committed a Campese style gaffe which allowed Joel Stransky to run the length of the field and score. Jason recalls thinking at the time "That's it. I'm finished. My career's over. I'll never play again." However, he made amends in great style by scoring a try in each half, both characterised by his long loping run. In 1994 Jason suffered a cruel piece of luck when he was injured in exactly the same match as Tim Horan - a Super 10s game against Natal. Unlike Horan, he was back in the Australian side in the same season and scored a try in the first minute of the Bledisloe Cup clash with a Nureyev like leap on the goal line.

By 1995 Jason was regarded as one of the world's best players and the top of everyone's hit list, including rugby league clubs in Australia and Britain. Perhaps as a consequence of the large amounts of money on offer, he lacked focus and did not play to the best of his ability in the World Cup. By 1998 Jason was no longer an automatic choice for the first XV, but remained a valuable squad player. Indeed, for the 1999 World Cup he was used as a "supersub" to great effect and made appearances in all of Australia's knockout stage matches, including the final victory over France. In common with Horan and John Eales, it was his second winners medal in three attempts. His international career ended in 2000 after helping Australia to their first Tri-Nations title. In total, Jason won 75 caps, scoring 21 tries. (Jon Collins)