Tim HORAN

Australia have produced many great centres down the years including the likes of Cyril Towers, John Brass, Geoff Shaw and Andrew Slack, but Tim Horan was arguably the best of the lot. Through an eleven year career Tim earned 80 caps and scored 30 tries, winning two World Cup winners medals in the process. Horan initially made a name for himself through rock solid defence and a nose for the try line, but as his career developed he would become playmaker supreme, most notably in the 1999 World Cup. His style of play and compact physique also would have made him ideally suited for Rugby League, but despite many offers Tim stayed true to the 15 man code. His debut came against New Zealand in 1989 in the fallout of Australia's defeat by the British Lions. The match was lost, but Tim earned the respect of his opposite number, the great Joe Stanley.

After the match Stanley gave Horan his All Black jersey whilst at the same time allowing the youngster to keep his own as it was his first. For Australia's next test against France, Tim was joined by his boyhood friend from the Darling Downs in Queensland, Jason Little. The two 19 year olds played superbly and their defence snuffed out the threat from Phillipe Sella and Frank Mesnel, before combining to put Tim in for his first two tries. After that victory both players were subjected to a mock bar room ceremony in which they were made to swear on oath not to sign for Rugby League! The partnership would in fact last for many years and was one of the main reasons behind Australia's successes in the 1990s. (Jon Collins)

The centre partnership of Horan and Little proved to a be a crucial component in Australia's victory in the 1991 World Cup. Tim scored four tries, including a beauty against New Zealand in the semi-final (see photo above : taken on 27th. October by G. Herringshaw ©). The try came about in the first half when Marty Roebuck's chip ahead was collected by David Campese, who fooled several defenders before offloading to Tim, who was making himself heard on the outside. Tim collected an over the shoulder pass from Campo and dived over for the try. Australia won the match 16-6, but it was Tim's defence that was most needed in the final against England as the Wallabies ran out 12-6 winners. In 1992 Horan continued to excel with some superb performances in the Bledisloe Cup, scoring a great try in the first test. However, the highlight of Tim's year was probably his performance against South Africa in the one off test in Cape Town. Minutes from time he danced his way out of defence before chipping head and racing half the length of field to dispossess South African legend Danie Gerber. It was a game breaking piece of rugby and from the resulting ruck he shipped the ball to David Campese who went over for his 50th try.

The 1993 season saw the loss of the Bledisoe Cup in a one off clash, but Australia were able to come back after losing the first test to beat South Africa. In 1994 Tim's international career almost came to an end when he suffered a severe knee injury in a Super 10s game for Queensland. Ironically, Jason Little, whose career had run parallel to Tim's since boyhood, was hurt in the same match, though not as seriously. Tim's injury was particularly complicated and involved delicate surgery on his kneecap and the supporting ligaments. It was predicted that he would never play top flight rugby again, but months of gruelling rehab and an ANZAC style stubbornness meant that Tim would make an amazing comeback.

It took over a year, but he eventually took the field once more for Australia against Canada in the 1995 World Cup. He went on to play in two more matches, including the quarter-final with England, though his performances were understandably muted. He was back in top form in 1996 and scored four tries in tests, helping inspire Australia to victory over South Africa in Sydney just a week after being hammered 43-6 by New Zealand. At the end of the year Tim also had the honour of captaining Australia against Wales in Cardiff. (Jon Collins)

In 1997 Tim Horan was shifted from the centre to fly-half as coach Greg Smith tinkered with his side - an experiment that met with mixed success. Highlights of the season were Tim's 50th cap, won in a test against New Zealand in Christchurch, whilst in the next game against England he scored a try to become the sixth Australian player to reach the milestone of 100 points. He then missed several tests due to a fractured thumb and was thus spared the horror of a 61-22 Tri-Nations defeat by South Africa, a loss that led to Smith being fired. The injury healed in time for the UK tour, and in an otherwise forgettable 15 all draw with England at Twickenham, Tim gave one of his best ever performances, sending Ben Tune and George Gregan over for a try apiece. In 1998 Australia showed renewed determination in their effort to return to world class status and began the year with a spectacular 76-0 drubbing of England, a game in which Tim bagged two tries.

He then helped the Aussies to a 3-0 win in the Bledisloe Cup, though they were denied a first ever Tri-Nations title by South Africa. Then, in 1999 the Wallabies peaked at exactly the right time and stormed to victory in the World Cup. Tim was masterful throughout and in several games seemed to be dictating the pace and pattern of play all by himself. He was rightfully named Player Of The Tournament and was joined on the winners rostrum by two of his teammates from '91 - Jason Little and John Eales. The 2000 season would prove to be Tim's last as a Wallaby and his appearances were curtailed by injury. He continued to play at club level after signing for Saracens in the English Premiership, and also began a new career as a newspaper columnist. (Jon Collins)