OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cardiff | Monday 9.45am.
AUSTRALIAN centre Tim Horan, named player of the World Cup, may have played his last game of rugby for Australia.
The Wallabies were to fly home from Britain later on Monday with the World Cup following Saturday’s no nonsense 35-12 defeat of France.
And the 29-year-old Horan’s 80th Test in 11 years for Australia since making his debut as a 19-year-old against New Zealand in 1989 may be his last.
“The simple fact of the matter is that it would be a great way to go out — winning a World Cup. It’s something I’ve been thinking about,” he said after Saturday’s triumph.
Horan, who also played in Australia’s 1991 World Cup win, came back from a debilitating knee injury five years ago when doctors told him he would never play again. His knee still swells after each game, requires constant ice treatment and frequently forces him to cut back his training.
The Australian team, who will be given a ticker-tape parade in Sydney later this week, have boosted rugby union in a country dominated by league and Australian Rules.
“The biggest thing is what it does for the game in Australia for the next four years,” said Nick Farr-Jones, captain of the 1991 World Cup-winning side.
The next big date for Australian rugby is 2001 when the British Lions tour down under. Then Australia organises the 2003 World Cup.
France has been labelled beauty and the beast by the Australian press following accusations of eye-gouging in both their stylish semi-final defeat of the All Blacks and Saturday’s final in Cardiff.
“If the International Rugby Board has any backbone at all the flamboyant filth-traders should be heavily censured for the dirt they dished up in the showpiece match before a worldwide audience of more than a billion,” The Australian thundered.
“Sport has no place for eye-gougers, headbutters, testicle-tweakers and biters.” — AFP