Inside the Wallabies

Book excerpt: Dally Messenger, Ken Catchpole, Dick Thornett, David Campese, John Eales, Nick Farr-Jones, Cyril Towers, Mark Ella, George Smith, Dave Brockhoff, Andrew Slack, Ray Price, John Hipwell, Jason Little, Phil Kearns, Will Genia... Herbert 'Paddy' Moran was mesmerised by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. He was also the first captain of a strange, disparate bunch who called themselves the Wallabies. One hundred years on, the Wallabies of today are as outlandish, cocksure and eccentric as their forebears. It is the spirit and soul of this group of remarkable sportsmen that is captured in Inside the Wallabies. This is the real story of the Wallabies from their first games in 1908 to today. It is about the players, the coaches, the politics and the games. It is about the soaring highs of World Cup success and the years when they truly deserved the moniker of Woeful Wallabies. It is about going on Tour, about enmities and friendships, about moments of national elation and player shame. As fast paced as a Mark Ella backline play, as solid as Phil Kearns' front row and as controversial as a Robbie Deans selection, Inside the Wallabies is a fascinating, passionate and insightful history of the world of the Australian Rugby Union. It is a book no rugby fan can be without.