- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Rod Macqueen doesn’t take credit for Stephen Larkham’s phenomenal drop goal against the Springboks to help boot the Wallabies into the 1999 Rugby World Cup final.
“I’d like to think that I told Larkham to kick the goal, but I didn’t,” he quipped in an interview with The Roar.
But you wouldn’t have been surprised if he had.
The Roar is counting down the Wallabies’ Greatest World Cup XV of all time from No. 15-1 with thanks to thousands of votes from our readers. This is our final selection.
Macqueen was a meticulous planner.
“I really think a World Cup is about planning as opposed to the British and Irish Lions, which is quite a different thing,” he said.
“It is about planning, it is about thinking about where you want to be in two years’ time and making the decisions early for what’s going to happen in two years’ time.”
Australia coach Rod MacQueen and assistant coach Jeff Miller lift the Web Ellis trophy after victory over France in the Rugby World Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium. Credit: Dave Rogers /Allsport
Compare that to Eddie Jones’ Wallabies about to play their World Cup opener against Georgia, with the veteran coach not just returning to the role in mid-January but putting a broom through his plans in late July by bidding farewell to old pros Quade Cooper and Michael Hooper.
Macqueen says planning can help, but adds that Jones at least has the benefit of knowing the international landscape.
“I’m just talking about the ideal scenario, but I think you’ve got to look and see, which I’m sure Eddie’s doing, what the game is going to be like, what brand of rugby are the best teams playing and set yourself to make sure you can overcome that,” Macqueen said.
Suffice to say Macqueen did, using every bit of his business background to ensure the Wallabies were primed to make a late, great run into the World Cup.
“Intrinsic planning with a World Cup,” Macqueen said was the key difference with the World Cup compared to coaching the Lions to victory, “the beginning, the journey and the destiny was there.”
But even in the Wallabies’ extra time win over the Springboks, John Eales’ side knew what they wanted to do.
“I think the composure of the team is what got us through that,” he said.
“We came in ahead of extra time and we’d already discussed what would happen in extra time and how we’d go about it. Everyone was fairly calm about it.”
Macqueen’s relationship with Eales was crucial to their success.
“We got on very well and he was able to put what was best for the team as to what was best for the individual,” Macqueen said.
“That didn’t necessarily make him the most popular captain sometimes.
“He was always a part of the management discussions we had, and sometimes the best interest of the team is not seen as in the best interest of some individuals. He was very good at understanding the big picture and going through with it.”
Rod Mcqueen during a training session ahead of taking on Ireland at the Portmarnock Sport Centre, Dublin. Credit: Nick Wilson/ALLSPORT
Off the back of Greg Smith’s tenure, Macqueen could have turned away from Eales.
“We re-opened it up and, in the end, he was the right person for the job,” Macqueen said.
The most important decision he made?
“It was an important decision. Yeah, I think so,” he said.
“We had long meetings and long discussions over a couple of months and it was the right decision.”
Macqueen’s great skill was using those around him.
The World Cup winning coach didn’t claim to think he knew it all but used his assistant coaches – and players, including Rod Kafer – to help drive the Wallabies’ tactics.
But that was the great skill of Macqueen, being able to put aside ego in the greater good of the team and masterminding the Wallabies’ second World Cup triumph.
It was a moment and a team that has Australian rugby fans have held on to for two decades.
Rod Macqueen is your choice of Head Coach for The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV, powered by ASICS, the Official Performance Apparel and Footwear supplier for the Wallabies. Macqueen won with 59.3% of the vote, followed by Bob Dwyer and Eddie Jones.
The Roar’s Greatest Wallabies Rugby World Cup XV
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.