1991 World Cup
Team Members: D Campese, T Coker, D Crowley, S Cutler, A Daly,
J Eales, R Egerton, N Farr-Jones (Captain), J Flett, A Herbert,
T Horan, P Kearns, D Knox, C Lillicrap, J Little,
M Lynagh, R McCall, E McKenzie, J Miller, B Nasser, D Nucifora, W Ofahengaue, S Poidevin, M Roebuck, P Slattery, R Tombs.
1999 World Cup
Team Members: Andrew Blades, Tom Bowman, Matt Burke, Matt Cockbain, Mark Connors, Dan Crowley, John Eales (captain), Owen Finegan, Michael Foley, David Giffin,
George Gregan, Nathan Grey, Richard Harry, Daniel Herbert,
Tim Horan, Rod Kafer, Phil Kearns, Toutai Kefu,
Stephen Larkham, Chris Latham, Jason Little, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Joe Roff, Scott Staniforth, Tiaan Strauss, Ben Tune, Chris Whitaker, Jim Williams, David Wilson.
2003 V NZ semi final
Matt Rogers, Wendell Sailor, Stirling Mortlock, Elton Flatley, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (c), David Lyons, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Nathan Sharpe, Justin Harrison, Ben Darwin, Brendon Cannon, Bill Young.
Subs: Jeremy Paul, Al Baxter, David Giffin, Matt Cockbain, Chris Whitaker, Nathan Grey, Joe Roff.
The common threads in these teams are:
Good local coaching - Dwyer, Macqueen and Jones.
Tough and uncompromising forwards that were feared by the opposition. At least 1-2 in each squad probably classified as a bit ‘mad’ but most of them hated losing so they rarely did.
Brilliant world-class backs on both sides of the ball (ex-Campo) but he could tackle occasionally.
Many have gone on to successful business, rugby administration and/or coaching careers.
State Combinations for cohesion and familiarity
McKenzie/Kearns/Daly
Eales and McCall
Gregan/Larkham
Horan/Little and Horan/Herbert
Ofehengaue and Poidevin
Kefu/Wilson/Cockbain
NSW fullbacks - Roebuck, Burke, Rogers
Based on these principles, what is your team to win RWC23?