Wallabies All Time Greatest XV
15. Matt Burke
The Wallabies’ flying fullback who starred in the 1999 Rugby World Cup triumph, Matt Burke commences the team-sheet for Australia’s greatest ever XV. Scoring over 800 points for the Wallabies, Burke simply could not be stopped when he hit top gear. Also a renowned place kicker, Burke slotted seven penalties and two conversions in Australia’s triumphant Rugby World Cup Final victory over France.
14. David Campese
The great entertainer. When David Campese set off with the ball in hand, Wallabies fans sat up and got to the edge of their seats. The tantalising ability to weave in and out of the opposition, Campese is regarded as the best winger Australian rugby has ever produced. Despite never winning the RWC, Campese has a Lomu-esque outing at the competition, as he shone in 1987, and won Player of the Tournament in 1991.
11. Joe Roff
Roff nailed his name to the number eleven jersey during Australia’s ‘Golden Era’, and had a phenomenal tournament in the 1999 coronating year. Explosive pace, he made up a terrifying trio across the back-three with Ben Tune and the aforementioned Matt Burke.
13. Stirling Mortlock
Few men had the ability to instill fear into the world’s best rugby players, Mortlock was one of those men. The bruising centre made sure that every tackle he made, the unfortunate ball carrier would remember his name. Mortlock’s thunderous crash ball strength took the Wallabies to topple the All Blacks come the turn of the new Millennium, and clinched his side the 2000 and 2001 Tri Nations Championships.
12. Tim Horan
Regarded by Australian rugby fans and pundits as the best centre the Wallabies have ever seen, Tim Horan was a marked man by any side he lined up against. Simply put, the tactics often enforced would be to the extent of ‘don’t let Horan get going’. However, many teams failed to do so, which in turn took Horan to Rugby World Cup glory with Australia in 1991 and 1999, and he was also voted player of the tournament in ’99.