1994 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
The 1994 Kangaroo Tour was the 18th and last Kangaroo Tour played in the conventional format, where the Australian side plays a number of matches against British and French clubs or provincial outfits, in additions to the Test matches. The outbreak of the Super League war in early 1995 meant that the next Kangaroo tour, set for 1998, never eventuated; although shortened, test only tours were staged in 2001 and 2003.
Australia continued its dominance, winning both Test series against Great Britain and France, suffering only one loss (against Great Britain in the First Test at Wembley, just as they had done in 1990), and remained undefeated against British club outfits in a streak stretching back to the 1978 tour.
The team was coached by Bob Fulton who was making his fourth Kangaroo tour (1973 and 1978 as a player, the latter as captain, and 1990 as coach). Team captain Mal Meninga created history by becoming the first and so far only player to make four tours as a player. He also became the first player to captain consecutive tours. His four tours included being a member of two undefeated teams, first as a member of "The Invincibles" in 1982, and the second with "The Unbeatables" in 1986. Fulton and Meninga also became the first pair to be the Coach and Captain on consecutive Kangaroo tours. Laurie Daley, the New South Wales State of Origin captain who had captained the Australian team to a 14-all draw with New Zealand in Auckland in 1993 with Meninga missing due to suspension, was named as the tours vice-captain
Balmain Tigers Second-rower Paul Sironen became just the fourth forward to be selected for three Kangaroo tours, having previously toured in 1986 and 1990.
This was the last full strength Australian side to take the field until after the resolution of the Super League war (1998).
The Kangaroo tour was televised back to Australia on the Nine Network with commentary provided by Nine's rugby league commentary team of Ray "Rabbits" Warren (making a rare appearance overseas due to a fear of flying), 1982 and 1986 Kangaroo tourist Peter Sterling, and 13 test veteran for Australia Paul "Fatty" Vautin. Following the second test Vautin was forced to return to Australia for medical reasons. He was replaced in the commentary box by former Great Britain halfback Alex Murphy who had provided sideline comments for Nine during the first two tests.
Touring squad
By Club
The touring side was represented by 20 New South Welshmen (N) and 8 Queenslanders (Q).
- Canberra Raiders (7): Mal Meninga (captain) (Q), Laurie Daley (N) (vice-captain), Bradley Clyde (N), David Furner (N), Brett Mullins (N), Ricky Stuart (N), Steve Walters (Q)
- Brisbane Broncos (6): Michael Hancock (Q), Allan Langer (Q), Glenn Lazarus (N), Steve Renouf, (Q), Wendell Sailor (Q), Kevin Walters (Q)
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (3): Terry Hill (N), Steven Menzies (N), Ian Roberts (N)
- Balmain Tigers (2): Tim Brasher (N), Paul Sironen (N)
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2): Dean Pay (N) Jason Smith (Q)
- Illawarra Steelers (2): Paul McGregor (N), Rod Wishart (N)
- North Sydney Bears (2): David Fairleigh (N), Greg Florimo (N)
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (1): Andrew Ettingshausen (N)
- Newcastle Knights (1): Paul Harragon (N)
- Penrith Panthers (1): Brad Fittler (N)
- Western Suburbs Magpies (1): Jim Serdaris (N)
British leg
The first match against Great Britain at London's Wembley Stadium featured pre-match entertainment by Cliff Richard.[1]
The 1994 Ashes series again broke the record aggregate crowd for the series in Great Britain with 140,430 attending the three Tests, beating the record of 133,684 set on the 1990 Kangaroo Tour. As with the 1982, 1986 and 1990 tours, the game against Wigan at Central Park drew the biggest club game attendance of the Kangaroo Tour.
The Kangaroos played an international tour match against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff on 30 October wearing their non-Test Australian jumpers for the game (for the first time in Kangaroo Tour history, the Kangaroos non-Test jumpers included yellow hoops around the waist leaving the traditional jumper to be used only in the Tests). In the first meeting of the two nations since the 1982 Kangaroo tour, the Australians ran in eight tries to one in a 46-4 win, played on a heavy ground and in driving rain before 8,729 fans. The match proved to be spiteful and produced two dark spots. Welsh dual international John Devereux suffered a badly broken jaw after he accidentally collided with Mal Meninga's left shoulder when attempting to tackle the Australian captain. Later an all-in-brawl erupted after Kangaroos second-rower Paul Sironen reacted to a high tackle from Welsh halfback Kevin Ellis on Kangaroo halfback Allan Langer.
The 1994 Kangaroos scored 535 points on the British leg of the tour (96 tries, 75 goals, 1 field goal), while conceding only 108 points (17 tries, 20 goals).
Date | Opponent | Score | Ground | Referee | Crowd | Report |
October 2 | Cumbria | 8-52 | Derwent Park, Workington | J. Connolly | 4,227 | |
October 5 | Leeds | 6-48 | Headingley Stadium, Leeds | R. Smith | 18,581 | |
October 8 | Wigan | 20-30 | Central Park, Wigan | D. Campbell | 20,057 | |
October 12 | Castleford | 12-38 | Wheldon Road, Castleford | J. Connolly | 11,073 | |
October 16 | Halifax | 12-26 | Thrum Hall, Halifax | J. Holdsworth | 8,352 | |
October 22 | Great Britain | 8-4 | Wembley Stadium, London | G. Annesley (AUS) | 57,034[2] | |
October 26 | Sheffield | 2-80 | Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield | R. Tennant | 8,000 | |
October 30 | Wales | 4-46 | Ninian Park, Cardiff | J. Connolly | 8,729 | |
November 1 | St Helens | 14-32 | Knowsley Road, St Helens | C. Morris | 13,911 | |
November 5 | Great Britain | 8-38 | Old Trafford, Manchester | G. Annesley (AUS) | 43,930 | |
November 9 | Warrington | 0-24 | Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington | J. Connolly | 11,244 | |
November 13 | Bradford Northern | 0-40 | Odsal Stadium, Bradford | S. Cummings | 9,080 | |
November 15 | Great Britain U/21's | 10-54 | Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead | S. Presley | 4,118 | |
November 15 | Great Britain | 4-23 | Elland Road, Leeds | B. Harrigan (AUS) | 39,468 | |
The Ashes series
1st Test
The first Test of the 1994 Kangaroo Tour was again played at London's Wembley Stadium, and attracted 57,034 fans, a record Test Match crowd in England.
Despite Great Britain captain and halfback Shaun Edwards being sent-off midway through the first half for a high shot on Australian second rower Bradley Clyde, the Lions put in another brilliant performance at Wembley and, as they had done in the first Test of the 1990 Kangaroo Tour defeated the Kangaroos 8-4. Lions fullback Jonathan Davies put in a Man of the Match performance, including a 50m solo try in the first half after being put into a gap by Denis Betts then outpacing Australian fullback Brett Mullins to score in the corner. Davies was also a solid last line of defence, repelling many breaks by the Kangaroos, until a dislocated shoulder midway through the second half saw him leave the field and later be ruled him out for the rest of the series.
Typical of Davies' play on the day, midway through the second half Kangaroos lock Brad Fittler made a break down the middle of the field only 25 metres out with Allan Langer in support and only the Lions fullback to beat. Fittler passed to Langer who should have had a clear 15 metre run to the line, however Davies had anticipated the pass and made the decision to go for Langer, bringing the Australian halfback down in a try saving tackle.
22 October 1994 |
Great Britain ![]() |
8 - 4 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Tries Jonathan Davies Goals Jonathan Davies Bobby Goulding |
Tries Steve Renouf |
Great Britain | Position | Australia |
---|---|---|
Jonathan Davies | FB | Brett Mullins |
Jason Robinson | WG | Andrew Ettingshausen |
Alan Hunte | CE | Mal Meninga (c) |
Gary Connolly | CE | Steve Renouf |
Martin Offiah | WG | Wendell Sailor |
Daryl Powell | SO | Laurie Daley |
Shaun Edwards (c) | SH | Allan Langer |
Chris Joynt | PR | Paul Harragon |
Lee Jackson | HK | Steve Walters |
Karl Harrison | PR | Ian Roberts |
Andy Farrell | SR | Paul Sironen |
Denis Betts | SR | Bradley Clyde |
Phil Clarke | LF | Brad Fittler |
Barrie McDermott | Int. | David Furner |
Bobby Goulding | Int. | Dean Pay |
Allan Bateman | Int. | Ricky Stuart |
Mick Cassidy | Int. | Tim Brasher |
Ellery Hanley | Coach | Bob Fulton |
2nd Test
With Lions captain Shaun Edwards out suspended for his high tackle on Bradley Clyde in the first Test, the captaincy was handed to his Wigan teammate Phil Clarke.
In defense of The Ashes, the Kangaroos came out firing, scoring seven tries to one, kick-started by captain Mal Meninga's 70m intercept run off a Bobby Goulding pass. Meninga put Andrew Ettingshausen in for his 10th try of the tour with a perfectly timed pass just as flying Lions winger Martin Offiah was about to tackle him. Rod Wishart made a welcome return to the Test team for the first time since the 10-33 loss to the Lions in Melbourne in the 2nd Test of the 1992 Lions tour. Wishart's goal kicking proving invaluable and he booted seven goals from nine attempts.
5 November 1994 |
Great Britain ![]() |
8 - 38 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Tries Paul Newlove Goals Bobby Goulding (2) |
Tries Brett Mullins (2) Andrew Ettingshausen, Bradley Clyde Steve Renouf, Laurie Daley Goals Rod Wishart (7) |
3rd Test
Great Britain coach Ellery Hanley made a number of changes for the third test. In the press before the game there was speculation that Hanley would actually play Phil Clarke at five-eighth and himself at lock, though most were questioning why the man who sparked the Lions in the second test, former captain Garry Schofield, wasn't in the starting side. The Lions changes for the decider were: Graham Steadman was dropped and Gary Connolly moved from the centres to his preferred fullback with Paul Newlove moving from the bench to replace Connolly in the centres. Shaun Edwards returned from suspension to captain the side, demoting Bobby Goulding to the bench. Phil Clarke did play 5/8 with Darryl Powell moved to the bench, Chris Joynt from the front row to lock and prop Barrie McDermott into the run on side while Pacey St Helens back rower Sonny Nickle came into the team on the bench replacing Mick Cassidy. Kangaroos coach Bob Fulton made just one change to the side that had comprehensively won the second test with David Fairleigh coming onto the bench to replace Paul Sironen.
Although the Australian's kept the Lions tryless for the game, the third test was a genuine contest. Laurie Daley opened the scoring midway through the first half with a try from his own kick. Near the Great Britain line he chip kicked over Connolly who got a hand to the ball but it deflected up perfectly for the Australian vice-captain who caught the ball and put it down untouched next to the posts. Wishart's easy conversion gave the Australian's a 6-0 lead before a 40 metre Andy Farrell penalty goal saw the score 6-2 at half time. Farrell kicked a second goal after the break but that was as close as the Lions got. Wishart was next to score following a long pass by Daley. The Illawarra flyer took the pass and stepped inside Jason Robinson to score in the corner. He missed converting his own try and Australia led 10-4. Play then went back and forth with both sides making breaks but were unable to capitalise. Steve Walters then confirmed himself as Man of the Match when he ran from dummy half and pushed through 3 defenders to score beside the posts with Wishart's conversion giving the Kangaroos a match winning 16-4 lead. Dean Pay then scored his first test try to put the result beyond doubt and ensure Australia kept alive its streak of winning every Ashes series in England since 1962-63. Ricky Stuart looked like scoring his first try but was tackled short of the line. However he was able to get a flick pass away to Pay who scored under the posts giving Wishart an easy conversion. Stuart then got himself on the scoreboard with a field goal to give Australia a 23-4 win.
As he had announced his retirement prior to the end of the 1994 NSWRL season, this was Australian captain Mal Meninga's last game in England. Meninga had made a record four Kangaroo Tours in his career, the only player to do so, and had captained the squad twice, also the only player to do so. Meninga had played 49 games over the four tours (winning 47) and scored a total of 304 points (31 tries*, 95 goals) and was the leading point scorer on the 1982 Kangaroo tour with 166 points (10 tries, 68 goals). Note: Meninga's 10 tries scored on the 1982 tour were when they were worth 3 points. With points adjusted to 4 points per try, Meninga scored a total of 314 points.
Midway through the second half, Kangaroos centre Steve Renouf had a golden opportunity to join a select band of Australians who had scored a try in each test of an Ashes series, but inexplicably dropped a simple pass less than 5 metres from the line with no one near him. Had he scored he would have joined legendary winger Ken Irvine (1962-63), Wally Lewis (1986, Sam Backo (1988) and Mal Meninga (1990) on that list of players.
20 November 1994 |
Great Britain ![]() |
4 - 23 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Goals Andy Farrell (2) |
Tries Laurie Daley, Rod Wishart Steve Walters, Dean Pay Goals Rod Wishart (3) |
French leg
Date | Opponent | Score | Ground | Referee | Crowd | Report |
November 24 | Presidents XIII | 13-42 | Stade Robert Bobin, Paris | M. Chanfreau | 1,500 | |
November 27 | Catalans Selection | 16-60 | Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan | C. Alba | 4,000 | |
November 30 | France B | 9-64 | Stade Le Fargues, Avignon | G. Vigouroux | 1,500 | |
December 4 | France | 0-74 | Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers | B. Harrigan (AUS) | 8,000 | |
Test match
In what was Australian captain Mal Meninga's last game of rugby league, the Kangaroos ran in 13 tries at the Stade de la Méditerranée in Béziers to destroy the hapless French team 74-0, easily surpassing their then world record win of 58-0 over France earlier in the year at Parramatta Stadium in Sydney. Winger Andrew Ettingshausen crossed for a hat-trick while fullback Brett Mullins and centre Steve Renough both crossed for two tries. Other try scorers for the Kangaroos were Laurie Daley, David Fairleigh, Paul Harragon (who had replaced Greg Florimo on the bench), Ricky Stuart who got his first test try, Rod Wishart and Mal Meninga who fittingly scored the final try of the game. Rod wishart also had a good day with the boot landing 11 of his 13 goal attempts to take his point scoring tally to a Kangaroo Tour record of 174 (from 11 games), breaking the record of 170 set by dual rugby international Michael O'Connor on the 1986 Kangaroo Tour (O'Connor had played in 13 games). This was Australia's 11th straight win over France dating back to the French tour of Australasia in 1981.
4 December 1994 |
France ![]() |
0 - 74 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Goals Andrew Ettingshausen (3), Brett Mullins (2) Steve Renouf (2), Laurie Daley, David Fairleigh Paul Harragon, Ricky Stuart, Rod Wishart, Mal Meninga Goals Rod Wishart (11) |
France | Position | Australia |
---|---|---|
Frantz Martial | FB | Brett Mullins |
Frederic Banquet | WG | Andrew Ettingshausen |
David Despin | CE | Mal Meninga (c) |
Pierre Chamorin | CE | Steve Renouf |
David Fraisse | WG | Rod Wishart |
Jean-Marc Garcia | SO | Laurie Daley |
Patrick Entat (c) | SH | Ricky Stuart |
Frederic Teixido | PR | Glenn Lazarus |
Thierry Valero | HK | Steve Walters |
Hadji Boudebza | PR | Ian Roberts |
Daniel Divet | SR | Dean Pay |
Didier Cabestany | SR | Bradley Clyde |
Pascal Jampy | LF | Brad Fittler |
Mathieu Khedimi | Int. | Tim Brasher |
Jacques Pech | Int. | Allan Langer |
Claude Sirvent | Int. | Paul Harragon |
Karl Jaavuo | Int. | David Fairleigh |
Ivan Grésèque | Coach | Bob Fulton |
Statistics
Leading Try Scorer
- 15 by Andrew Ettingshausen*
Leading Point Scorer
- 174 by Rod Wishart (8 tries, 71 goals)
Largest Attendance
- 57,034 - First test vs Great Britain at Wembley Stadium**
Largest Club Game Attendance
- 20,057 - Australia vs Wigan at Central Park
* Andrew Ettingshausen became the first player to be the leading try scorer on consecutive Kangaroo Tours having also topped the list in 1990.
** The First test attendance of 57,034 remains the largest ever recorded Kangaroo Tour crowd
References
- ↑ Moore, Andrew (2001). The best ever Australian Sports Writing. Australia: Black Inc. p. 366. ISBN 1-86395-266-7. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ↑ Wilson, Andy (4 November 2011). "Wembley Rugby League internationals - in pictures". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
Further reading
- Stuart, Ricky (1995). Ashes to ashes: Ricky Stuart's Kangaroo tour diary. Ironbark. ISBN 9780330356510.
External links
- 1994 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France at rlhalloffame.org.uk
- 1994 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France at rl1908.com
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