|
Ian Scott Gibbs made his debut in 1991 as a nineteen year old and defeat against England would set the tone for the first part of his career. He had spent two years in the Welsh Youth team and after joining Neath had played for Wales B. In a meteoric rise, he gained his first cap after just six months playing senior rugby. He quickly gained a reputation as a direct and hard-running centre, but sadly too often his duties would be defensive - a job he never shirked and often relished. The lows would out-number the highs with World Cup disaster in 1991, Wales failing to reach the quarter-final stage after an embarassing defeat against Western Samoa which was then followed by victory against Argentina and a crushing 38-3 defeat against Australia (the photo above was taken during the game).
The 1992 Five Nations Championship saw Scott feature in all four games as Wales secured narrow victories against Ireland (16-15) and Scotland (15-12) in the opening and closing fixtures. In between the Welsh went down 12-9 to France and 24-0 to England. Losing to England almost became a habit but at least Gibbs would taste victory in the famous 10-9 win at the Arms Park in 1993. Nevertheless, a home defeat to Canada in the same year may have reminded Gibbs that his talents were being wasted in Welsh rugby. In April 1994, he joined St Helens and enjoyed a highly successful career, winning the Challenge Cup in 1996 and the inaugural Super League title. Gibbs' first spell with the national team saw him play on twenty occasions, with only a disappointing five of those on the winning side. (John Lovell)
The picture of Wales's Scott Gibbs was taken by Nigel French on 9th. October 1999. © G.H.
Scott Gibbs returned to Swansea in 1996 in a £200, 000 transfer shortly after Union went professional. Gibbs had bulked up in League and was now considerably bigger than his debut weight of 12 stone 5. As a punch runner he was without equal and it didn't take long for both Wales and the British Lions to select him. He captained the side against the U.S.A in 1997, scoring his third international try. Gibbs was then at the heart of the Lions' 1997 series win over the Springboks. His devastating running and tackling earnt him the 'Man of the series' award. The way he ran over a certain Springbok prop has now become a seminal part of Lions history. The block-busting Swansea centre will forever be known as the scorer of 'that try'.
For any Welsh fan a last minute try which gives Neil Jenkins the opportunity to take the game will always be savoured, but when the opposition is England seeking another Grand Slam and the drama is being played out at a packed Wembley then that is the stuff of dreams. Add pre-match entertainment by Tom Jones and Max Boyce and you really have Welsh rugby heaven. But this was real. England had swept all before them in the 1999 Five Nations. They were doing a pretty good job on Wales but the kicking of Neil Jenkins kept them in touch. With time running out Gibbs was launched in a set move from a lineout. The Swansea man danced to the line and Jenkins kicked the winning conversion. Wales won 32-31 - a modern Welsh fairytale! For Gibbs and Wales this really was a golden era.
With Graham Henry as coach the side recorded ten straight wins, including a rare away win in France. Gibbs as ever was at the heart of operations - fiercesome in defence and like a battering ram in attack. An automatic selection for the 1999 World Cup, hosted by Wales, Gibbs helped guide his side to the quarter-finals where the eventual winners Australia were flattered by a 24-9 score line. In contrast to the early part of his career, Gibbs was able to enjoy a steady supply of quality possession and was surrounded by players of true class in Scott Quinnell and Robert Howley. However, a player who seemed to enjoy physical confrontations was bound to receive his fair share of knocks. Gibbs played his last game for Wales in a win against Italy in 2001, after gaining his 50th cap in a draw with the Scots at Murrayfield. He was also called up as a late replacement for the Lions tour of Australia in the same year - his third tour. (John Lovell)
|