John EALES

The 1997 season proved to be something of a watershed for Australian rugby - unsuccessful, but the beginning of an upward curve that would culminate in victory in the World Cup two years later. John had the misfortune to be captain of a complacent Wallaby side who lost the Bledisloe Cup 3-0 and were trounced 61-22 by South Africa in the Tri-Nations. Incumbent coach Greg Smith was sacked to be replaced by Rod McQueen, and it was the beginning of a highly fruitful partnership with Eales. The 1998 season was one of the most arduous Australia had ever undertaken, and began with a 76-0 demolition of an understrength England side in Brisbane. John then lead Australia to victory in the Bledisloe Cup on New Zealand soil, the first time they had achieved this since 1949. Only narrow defeats by South Africa prevented Tri Nations victory, and Australia ended their year against England at Twickenham.

It was here that John gave a perfect demonstration of the superior focus and mental toughness that set him apart from the rest. Indeed, when Jeremy Guscott landed the only try of the game deep into the second half, it seemed that it was England's game and all Mike Catt had to do was score the conversion. Clearly affected by nerves and the weight of expectation, Catt snatched at the kick and the ball sailed wide. Almost inevitably, Australia were then awarded a penalty, and it was John Eales turn to be under the microscope. In complete contrast to Catt, Eales had that look in his eye which simply said "I want to be here" and he slotted home a perfect field goal, his fourth successful attempt in the match. Ominously he told the Sydney Morning Herald "Good sides win these sort of games. Look at Australia when we played at a high level in 1991 - whenever there was a close game we'd get up." (Jon Collins)

The period 1999-2001 was the most successful and glorious era that Australian rugby has ever enjoyed, with victories in all the major competitions. However, none of it may have been possible due to John's over enthusiasm in the weights room before the start of the winter test season. Indeed, for the second time in his career, John suffered a worrying injury and had he not recovered one can only speculate how Australia would have fared. Thankfully, although he missed the Super 12 series and all of Australia's tests, the captain was fit in time for the World Cup. Australia were only expected to do moderately well and attracted little attention in the early stages of the tournament, but by the time of the quarter-final against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, they were looking in ominous form.

John never doubted that his men would come through the challenge, and this was demonstrated by an incident during the game when a Welsh forward held Eales' teammate Andrew Blades in a headlock, saying "Where do you think you're going boyo?". Eales leaned over and calmly informed the Welshman "To Twickenham my friend, to Twickenham." And so it proved. At HQ Australia vanquished the South Africans in a nailbiter that went to extra time and then returned to Cardiff to take on the French in the final. The Wallabies dominated an uninspired game, eventually winning 35-12, with John only denied a deserved try by the referee's whistle. By winning Australia had become the first side to lift the World Cup twice and it was apt that their two most influential players, John and Tim Horan, had also participated in the first triumph. (Jon Collins)

With the World Cup stashed away in the trophy cabinet, one might have expected the Wallabies to have gone off the boil in 2000, but as in 1992 they came out fighting and won an overdue Tri-Nations title. A 39-35 loss to New Zealand early on, dented Australia's chances, but the highpoint of the campaign was the return leg in Wellington when John scored a last ditch penalty for a 24-23 victory. With the Bledisloe Cup tied, home and away victories over South Africa proved to be decisive. In the autumn, an exhausted Australia then took on England at Twickenham and very nearly pulled a win out of the bag, only to be denied by Dan Luger's disputed late try. A sure sign of John's competitive spirit is shown by the fact that even though this was only a friendly against a country over which he had enjoyed many triumphs, he described it as one of the worst moments of his career. The defeat was of course just a blip and in 2001 Australia soared to ever higher heights with a first series victory over the British Lions and another Tri-Nations title. In the first test at Ballymore the Lions clearly had the wind in their sails and won easily 29-13. John was shattered by the defeat, but did not panic and carefully assessed what needed to be done to secure victory. Indeed, ever since 1989 when as a 19 year he had watched in the stands at Ballymore as the Lions bludgeoned their way to victory, John had craved a chance for revenge and was not about to let it slip away.

After a short period of reflection, Australia proceeded to win the remaining two tests, the latter 29-23 following severe Lions pressure in the dying minutes. Australia had traditionally been used as cannon fodder by the best of Britain and Ireland, and as John held aloft the Tom Richards trophy in front of the Sydney fans it was symbolic of the how the power balance in world rugby had truly come full circle. There was little time to celebrate though, for the Wallabies were soon in action again in the Tri Nations and this tournament would prove to be John's last hurrah. It all came down to the last game in Sydney before a sellout crowd of 91, 000 where Eales' shrewd leadership led Australia to a 29-26 win against New Zealand and with it a second title in a row. John delivered an emotional farewell address, but the last word went to Peter Crittle, President of the ARU who said simply: "Thank you, John Eales." After the match, John retired from rugby having amassed 86 caps, with a record 52 as captain. In total he scored 173 points, 163 of which had come from his trusty right boot. (Jon Collins)