David Campese

David Ian Campese, AM (born 21 October 1962), also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player. Campese was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and held the world record for the most tries in test matches (64) until Daisuke Ohata scored his 65th try playing for Japan on 14 May 2006.

Campese made his debut for the Wallabies on the 1982 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand. In 1983, he equaled the then record for most tries in a Test match for Australia against the USA, scoring four tries (that record was set by Greg Cornelsen in a famous victory over the All Blacks in 1978). Campese was a member of the Eighth Wallabies for the 1984 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland that won rugby's "grand slam", the first Australian side to defeat all four home sides, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, on a tour. Campese was a member of the Wallabies on the 1986 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand that beat the All Blacks 2-1, only the fifth international and second Australian team to win a Test series in New Zealand. During the 1987 Rugby World Cup semi-final against France, Campese broke the then world record for most tries scored by an international rugby player. In 1988 Campese received a standing ovation from the crowd and applause from his teammates after scoring a try for Australia against the Barbarians at Cardiff Arms Park. In October/November 1991 Campese was acclaimed the Player of the 1991 Rugby World Cup, scoring six tries in as many matches for the victorious Wallabies.

He is famous for his "goose-step" — a hitch-kick motion which left opponents stumbling to try to tackle him.

David Campese was born on 21 October 1962, in Queanbeyan, New South Wales to Gianantonio and Joan Campese. His older brother Mario was born in 1959. Campese has two sisters, Lisa and Corrina. Lisa was born in 1964 and Corrina was born in 1965. In 1966 his family moved back to Montecchio Precalcino in northern Italy for eighteen months before moving back to Australia and settling in Queanbeyan, New South Wales.

Campese attended his local public school and high school and played rugby league from the ages of eight to sixteen for the Queanbeyan Blues. At age 16 he gave up all forms of rugby to play golf. In 1978 he won the ACT-Monaro Schoolboys golf title.

David Campese played his first game of rugby union for the Queanbeyan Whites in 1979 in fourth grade. During 1980 he was promoted to first grade. After two years of first-grade rugby, in 1981 Campese was promoted to the Australian under-21 squad to tour New Zealand that was beaten 37-7. Shortly after, Campese was selected in a 'trial match' prior to Australia's 1981/82 Tour to the UK, but did not achieve national selection.

In 1982 the Scottish Test side toured Australia for a two-Test series. Prior to both Tests, David Campese was a standout performer at fullback playing for the Australian under 21s side.

Then Australian coach Bob Dwyer's first exposure to Campese was at an Australian under 21s game against Fiji. Dwyer wrote in his autobiography The Winning Way that:

In the tribute book David Campese former Australian coach Alan Jones wrote that:

In Running Rugby former Australian rugby player Mark Ella wrote of Campese's performance for the Australian Under 21s against New Zealand, which occurred prior to Australia's second Test against Scotland in 1982:

1982 Bledisloe Cup Test Series

On the night of Australia's second Test against Scotland in 1982, ten Australian rugby players announced that for personal and business reasons they would not be available for the 1982 Australian tour to New Zealand, including Australia's premier winger Brendan Moon. Following this announcement, David Campese was selected for the 1982 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand.

In The Winning Way then Australian coach Bob Dwyer wrote, "I am not sure whether he [Campese] would have made the tour if Brendan Moon and the others had not pulled out, but even if he had he would have been a borderline choice and might have remained on the fringe of the team for much of the tour. Instead, he occupied centre-stage and performed brilliantly."

Following the Wallabies first tour match against Taranaki in New Plymouth, David Campese played his first game for the Wallabies against Manawatu. Rugby journalist Bret Harris in Ella, Ella, Ella reports that, "An electrifying runner, he showed promise of greater things to come when he left the defence lurching into space to score a brilliant, solo try." Campese played in the following game against Hawke's Bay at Napier and, two matches later, was chosen for his first Test.

In The Winning Way Dwyer writes that, "I certainly did not mark him down as someone liable to break into the Test side. Although [Brendan] Moon had withdrawn, two other wingers of proven ability were going on the New Zealand tour, Peter Grigg and Mick Martin... Campese played in a couple of the early tour matches, and as we approached the first Test a few of the senior players tried to advance his cause by telling me how much they admired him."

Former New Zealand All Blacks wing Stu Wilson writes in the tribute book David Campese that, "When asked by a television reporter if he was looking forward to mark Stu Wilson he replied, 'Stu who?'" Campese responded in the same book by replying that, "The story is true, but Stu misunderstood why I said it. I didn't say it because I was cocky. I said it because I honestly did not know who Stu Wilson was. I was a nineteen-year-old boy from Queanbeyan. My background had been in rugby league, not rugby union."

Australia 16 – New Zealand 23 (Christchurch – 14 August 1982)

An account of Campese's Test debut is given by Bob Dwyer in The Winning Way:

In Running Rugby Mark Ella writes of Campese's debut that:

In On A Wing and a Prayer, Campese downplayed his success against Wilson, "I beat Stu Wilson, the All Black wing, a few times, on a couple of occasions by employing the goose-step. So much has been made of that fact over the years that it has been blown out of all proportion." He added that:

However, Campese did score his first try in international rugby from a cross-field kick from Mark Ella late in the game. In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese writes that:

Australia 19 – New Zealand 16 (Wellington – 28 August 1982)

Two moments involving Campese are frequently cited in reports of the second Test against New Zealand at Athletic Park.

Australian outside centre Gary Ella scored a try after Campese handled the ball twice in the movement. In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese writes that, "We led at 19-3 half-time, having plundered a gale-force wind in our favour in the first half at Athletic Park, Wellington. After two early Roger Gould penalty goals, I got through and found Mark Ella close by in support. Gould took it on, I backed him up and gave Gary Ella the scoring pass."

In Ella, Ella, Ella rugby journalist Bret Harris documents Gary Ella's try by writing that:

Before half-time Campese scored what rugby commentator Gordon Bray described as "one of the most stirring support tries in Test match history" and what rugby journalist Spiro Zavos called "one of rugby's greatest tries". Bray writes that, "More than half the Wallaby side handled in the movement, starting with Cox and Mark Ella. Then Gould, Grigg, Gary Ella, Hawker, Lucas and big Steve Williams all combined before Campo scooted over beside the posts. It was a knockout blow on half-time and gave the Australians a match-winning 19-3 lead."

Australia led New Zealand 19-3 at halftime. The full-time score was 19-16.

Australia 18 – New Zealand 33 (Auckland – 11 September 1982)

Campese played a central part in one of the biggest talking points of the third and final Test. In The Rise and Rise of Australian Rugby Philip Derriman records that:

Simon Poidevin in For Love Not Money writes that, "At halftime we were leading 15-12 and it could have been 21-12 if a try equal in skill and drama to the Campese try at Wellington hadn't been disallowed for a forward pass." Bob Dwyer in The Winning Way asserts the disallowed try could have cost Australia the Test, writing that, "Towards the end of the first half Steve Williams went over the line at the end of a movement which had begun at the far end of the field, but the referee ruled there had been a forward pass three or four players earlier. That try, if converted, would have taken us to a lead of 18 to 6 and, I think, could have been the winning of the match.

The Wallabies set a scoring record for an Australian tour of New Zealand by scoring 316 points in 14 matches, including 47 tries. This surpassed the achievement of the 1972 Australian team, which scored 229 in 13 matches. Australian sportswriter Jack Pollard documented that Campese "scored eight tries in nine games, kicked four goals and two penalties for a total of 48 points."

The Australian team made a positive impression on the New Zealand public during the tour and Campese was among those celebrated for his entertaining style of play. New Zealand rugby journalist Terry McLean, writing in the New Zealand Herald wrote after the tour that:

McLean continued his appraisal of the 1982 Australia Wallabies by writing that:

Regarding Campese's early impressions on New Zealand soil, former All Black breakaway Graham Mourie complimented him by saying:

All Black winger Stu Wilson later stated that it was an honour to have played against Campese:

1983

Australia 49 – United States 3 (Sydney – 9 July 1983)

Australia's first Test in 1983 was against the USA in Sydney, which was won 49-3. David Campese scored four tries in Australia's victory over the USA, equaling former Australian backrower Greg Cornelson's record for the most tries in a Test match for an Australian." In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese downplayed his achievement, writing that, "...I don't regard that as a great achievement; American rugby in those days was a long way removed from the New Zealand standard. The tries I had scored in the Tests against the All Blacks at Christchurch and Wellington the previous year made me infinitely more proud."

Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby writes that, "Campese, moved to fullback early in the second half with Roger Gould limping off injured, triggered the best of Australia's tries after collecting an American kick behind his own goal line. Veering left he launched a counterattack, the ball passed through six pairs of hands, including Campese's for a second touch, before flanker Chris Roche went over."

Australian coach Bob Dwyer praised Campese following the Test by stating that Campese did some "excellent things".

Australia 3 – Argentina 18 (Brisbane – 31 July 1983)

Following the Test against the United States, Australia played in a two Test home series against Argentina, which was drawn 1-1.

Australia lost the first Test to Argentina 3-18 in Brisbane, after Argentina scored two pushover tries. Prior to the Test Australian coach Bob Dwyer is recorded as saying that, 'It is going to be very difficult for us to get on top of them... However, once that takes place our ability and discipline in the backs is such that I don't see how they can stop us.'

Simon Poidevin recalls in For Love Not Money that, "Bob Dwyer said beforehand that he thought Australia's backs of Vaughan, Ella, Hawker, Slack, Moon, Campese and Gould would be altogether too fast for them. Rival captain Porta simply replied with the warning: 'We shall see who gets to the ball first.'"

Poidevin further records that, "They knew they had the power to kill us in the forwards and that, after they had dominated us in the scrums, our forwards would simply not have the energy left to scrounge for the ball elsewhere... They bled us to death in the scrum with more power and technique than any of our forwards had ever experienced before. Not the All Blacks, the French, or any of the Home Nations has ever shown anything like this."

Rugby journalist Bret Harris in Ella, Ella, Ella wrote that, "Dwyer's tactics relied heavily on the attacking brilliance of Australia's outside backs. He claimed Argentina would not see which way Campese, Moon and Gould went. But Porta employed percentage tactics, keeping the ball in front of the forwards and away from Australia's lethal backs. Australia was under so much pressure from the Argentinian forwards they failed to make use of the meagre possession they managed to win."

The Test also marked the first time David Campese was assigned the goal-kicking duties. Campese scored one from four goal-attempts in this Test.

Australia's scrum was heavily criticised for being outperformed by the Argentine scrum following the first Test.

Australia 29 – Argentina 13 (Sydney – 7 August 1983)

Following the first Test against Argentina, Australian fullback Roger Gould made himself unavailable due to a leg injury. Australian coach Bob Dwyer sought to replace Gould with Randwick fullback Glen Ella. Dwyer is recorded as saying, "I don't think there is a more devastating attacking player in the world than Campese, but Glen is a better positional player." However, Dwyer was outvoted by the Australian co-selectors, and Campese played his first Test at fullback for Australia.

Campese received praise for his debut performance at fullback in the second Test. Rugby journalist Bret Harris in Ella, Ella, Ella records that, "Campese performed so dazzlingly even Gould confessed to feeling a chill wind as he watched the match on television. He beat man after man every time he touched the ball." Campese was involved in the biggest controversy of the Test, as Harris documents:

Bret Harris in Ella, Ella, Ella records that, "Campese and Mark combined in the second half to score the best try of the series. Mark intercepted a pass 20 metres from the Australian tryline and raced towards the halfway before floating a pass to Campese who had zoomed up like a rocket. Campese bamboozled the Argentine fullback, Bernado Miguens, with his goose-step and drew the curtain on a superb performance."

In The Winning Way former Australian coach Bob Dwyer writes:

Australia 8 – New Zealand 18 (Sydney – 20 August 1983)

Australia played one Bledisloe Cup Test versus New Zealand in 1983, which was lost 8-18.

Campese continued to substitute for injured Australian fullback Roger Gould for Australia's one-off Bledisloe Cup Test for 1983 against New Zealand. Again, Australian coach Bob Dwyer recommended Randwick fullback Glen Ella for the fullback position in Gould's absence, but was overruled by his co-selectors.

Campese records in On a Wing and a Prayer that he "...missed four shots at goal from four attempts (two penalty goals and two conversions), and we lost 18-8, two tries to one in our favour, against the mighty All Blacks. I felt like kicking myself, but I would probably have missed."

This was in contrast to New Zealand's fullback Allan Hewson who managed five from six attempts at the goals. Bob Dwyer later said: "If we had been able to take even the conversion points it would have given us heart." Australian captain Mark Ella seriously contemplated replacing Campese and attempting the kicking duties himself, but he later reflected: "Who's to say I'd have done any better?"

Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby records that, "Campese did create one Australian try, running off the hip of centre Andrew Slack and into space before sending flanker Simon Poidevin on a weaving run to the line." Simon Poidevin in For Love Not Money writes that, "Campo broke through a set move from the backs to me, I saw the line open and went with everything I had. I saw the figure of Bernie Fraser coming at me, and though he got to me a metre out he wouldn't stop me and over I went."

Sports journalist Bret Harris, author of Ella, Ella, Ella criticised Campese's positional play at fullback, and praised New Zealand's backs, in particular All Black centre Steve Pokere, for their tactical kicking. In My Game Your Game Campese defends his 'general play', but highlights this Test as his 'first bitter experience' playing rugby union at Test match level:

1983 Tour to Italy and France

Australia 29 – Italy 7 (Rovigo – 22 October 1983)

In 1983 the Australia rugby union team traveled to Europe for a Test against Italy and a two-Test series against France.

Incumbent Australian fullback Roger Gould aggravated a thigh injury prior to the Test against Italy. However, Campese was selected on the wing, and Randwick fullback Glen Ella was selected in his second Test for Australia at fullback.

Campese was assigned the goal-kicking duties against Italy. Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby writes that the Test "also marked a goal-kicking return of sorts for winger Campese, who celebrated his 21st birthday the previous night. He managed to land three conversions and a penalty after coach Dwyer had suggested he was on the kicking high-wire. 'If David starts well, he'll kick well all day,' Dwyer offered on Test eve. 'But conversely, if he starts badly, then that's the end of him.'"

Australia 15 – France 15 (Clermont-Ferrard – 13 November 1983)

Australian fullback Roger Gould returned to the Australian team for Australia's 1983 Test series against France. However, due to an injury Gould sustained, Campese continued to perform the goal-kicking responsibilities for the Wallabies, following his goal-kicking performance against Italy. However, Campese played a diminished role in the games as Australia elected a less expansive style of play. Sports journalist Bret Harris records in Ella, Ella, Ella that:

Harris further adds that, "Gary [Ella], Campese and [Brendan] Moon barely touched the ball, but they played an important role in the strategy by chasing high kicks and defending stout-heartedly."

However, a different account of the Wallabies tactics is given by Bob Dwyer in The Winning Way, who wrote that, "Mark Ella played out of character for much of the tour and, for that reason, was not nearly so effective. I strongly suspect that a number of senior players with a conservative outlook had talked Ella out of playing his natural game. The Australian players appeared afraid to run the ball against the French. I think they felt that the French were so fast that if our players were tackled and lost possession in midfield their French counterparts would present a threat."

Dwyer further added that, "It was a miserable Test for us in every respect. Roger Gould could not do the goal-kicking because of an injury, so Campese had to do it instead, and Campo is not a goal-kicker of international class. We did not lose the Test, but I count that match among my least happy Rugby memories."

Campese kicked one conversion in the first Test against France.

Australia 6 – France 15 (Paris – 19 November 1983)

Campese landed only one penalty goal in Australia's 15-6 loss to France in Paris on 19 November 1983. Bret Harris reports that, "France controlled 70 per cent of the ball and enjoyed a territorial advantage for most of the match."

1984 Bledisloe Cup Test Series

Australia 16 – Fiji 3 (Suva – 9 June 1984)

Prior to the 1984 Bledisloe Cup Test Series, Australia played a Test against Fiji in Suva on 9 June 1984, in which Campese scored one try. Peter Jenkins writes that, "Forward power, one try through fullback David Campese, three penalty goals to Lynagh, and five-eighth Mark Ella chipping in with a drop goal, ensured a comfortable win. Sports journalist Bret Harris documents that Campese's try came from Mark Ella "looping around Lynagh to link with Slack, who sent Campese flying for the corner.".

1st Test: Australia 16 – New Zealand 9 (Sydney – 21 July 1984)

David Campese was selected, along with Mark Ella, to share the goal-kicking responsibility for the first Test against New Zealand in 1984. Rugby writer Peter Jenkins records in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby that, "Even wayward goal-kicking by winger Campese, who missed three attempts while Ella landed two from five, did not, on this occasion, prove crucial."

2nd Test: Australia 15- New Zealand 19 (Brisbane – 4 August 1984)

Rugby writer Peter Jenkins writes in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby that, "New Zealand fullback Robbie Deans kicked five penalty goals to put the All Blacks in front, including one after referee Roger Quittenton ruled Campese had taken Deans high in a tackle. Quinttenton later admitted he had made a mistake."

Rugby journalist Terry Smith wrote that, "The fifth [penalty] was the result of a horrific decision by England's Roger Quittenton... a referee who penalised David Campese for a head-high tackle as he attempted to wrap up Deans ball-and-all around the chest. Quittenton later admitted to Campese that he'd made a mistake, and added the incredible postscript that it hadn't affected the result."

3rd Test: Australia 24 – New Zealand 25 (Sydney – 18 August 1984)

Rugby journalist Terry Smith wrote that, "It wasn't until just before half-time in the third Test that Campese got his first chance of the series to run at the New Zealanders. He swept past Craig Green and Robbie Deans in bewildering fashion to conjure a try out of nothing." Smith further recorded that, "I saw Jones's half-time notes telling his players to stick to the game plan of moving the ball wide to wingers Campese and Brendan Moon whenever possible. His words fell on deaf ears."

Bryce Rope, coach of the New Zealand side that toured Australia in 1984, is quoted by rugby journalist Terry Smith in Path to Victory as saying that, "If David Campese had been given more opportunity out wide, there's no saying the damage he could have done.'

Years later, Rope recalled that denying Campese opportunities was a crucial component of the All Blacks victory. In The Rise and Rise of Australian Rugby he recalls that:

1984 Grand Slam

Australia successfully completed the "Grand Slam" with the side which included Campese as well as Mark Ella, Nick Farr-Jones and Michael Lynagh. As of 2015 the 1984 series remains the only time the Wallabies have completed the Grand Slam.

Australia 19 – England 3 (London – 3 November 1984)

The Wallabies had a nervy start in the game against England, the first international test of the Grand Slam tour. Campese almost scored early on by chasing a high kick from Michael Lynagh. Australia settled later on after tries from Ella and Lynagh, before Campese was to make a break down the left leading to a try.

With 14 minutes left in the Test, Australia's left wing Brendan Moon suffered a broken arm in a tackle. Australian winger Matt Burke replaced Moon, moving to the right wing, and shifting Campese to play on the left wing.

In Path to Victory Terry Smith documents that:

In Victorious Wallabies Terry Cooper records that:

In For Love Not Money Australian flanker Simon Poidevin recalls that, "For the last of our three tries I was tailing Campese down the touchline like a faithful sheepdog when he tossed me an overhead pass and over I went to score the Twickenham try every kid dreams of."

Australia 16 – Ireland 9 (Dublin – 10 November 1984)

Three moments involving Campese are frequently cited in reports on Australia's Test against Ireland in 1984.

In Victorious Wallabies Terry Cooper reports that:

In Running Rugby Mark Ella highlights this play as "An example of how a switch pass can result in a break." Ella gives a description of Campese's break by writing this:

In For Love Not Money former Australian flanker Simon Poidevin recalls that, "Campo made a sensational midfield break, gave to me and [Matthew] Burke loomed up alongside me with their fullback Hugo MacNeill the only guy to beat. Burke was on my right, my bad passing side, and as I drew MacNeill I somehow threw the ball forward to him."

In Victorious Wallabies Terry Cooper further recalls that, "Nineteen minutes left... Australia went into overdrive and came within a fingernail of regaining the lead immediately. Ella kicked to Ireland's line and Campese's attempt to touch down was foiled by an unkind bounce."

In Path to Victory Mark Ella writes regarding the Test-winning try that he scored, involving Campese:

Rugby journalist Cooper further depicts Ella's Test-winning try:

Mark Ella gives a description of his Test-winning try in Running Rugby:

Australia 28 – Wales 9 (Cardiff – 24 November 1984)

When discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the then Australian coach, Alan Jones, Campese has often remarked of his attention to detail, his obsession of knowing everything about the opposition, and being able to exploit what may be a potential weakness in the opposition. He often uses the example of the Welsh game from 1984 to prove this. Jones had learned through his sources, that Eddie Butler, the Welsh number 8, had not played a game for three weeks and felt Australia should utilise the blind-side. "As a tactician, one of Jones' strong points was his ability to spot opposition weaknesses." Campese wrote in his tribute book David Campese,

As Australian number 8 Steven Tuynman took the ball from the back of the scrum, he searched for Nick Farr-Jones, utilising the blind under Jones' command. Farr-Jones occupied Campese opposite winger and passed the ball to him, allowing Campese to run along the left wing. At the start of his run, Campese went past Butler, who was unable to make the defending tackle. But Campese's run was not over yet, he swerved past the Welsh fullback, and executed a wonderful sidestep to get past the Welsh inside center. Campese's sidestep led him toward a group of defenders, so he then offloaded to Simon Poidevin, who quickly passed the ball to Michael Lynagh who scored an easy try under the post. Australia won 28–9 in one of their greatest victories at the time.

Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby writes that, "Farr Jones helped create another try by using the short side. Campese made a superb run, Poidevin backed up and Lynagh touched down."

Terry Cooper records in Victorious Wallabies that:

Terry Smith in Path to Victory wrote that, "Lynagh's second try came after Farr-Jones again escaped up the blind side from a scrum to set up a dazzling break by David Campese. Simon Poidevin's backing up didn't happen by accident either. He always tries to trail Campese on the inside.

Australia 37 – Scotland 12 (Murrayfield – 8 December 1984)

Campese scored two tries in the Test against Scotland – the first tries Campese scored at Test level on the 1984 Tour to the United Kingdom.

Campese's counter-attacking was on display early in the Test. Terry Cooper writes that, "Australia were keen to bring David Campese into the action in the first minutes and he gave Scotland a scare with one of his diagonal runs. He saw Ella in support and a try looked on when Peter Grigg came bustling up to join the attack, but Ella's pass to Grigg was forward."

Terry Smith in Path to Victory documents Campese's first try by writing that, "Australia won a scrum and Ella missed out Lynagh as Gould came thundering into the line to suck in the Scottish cover, exactly as planned. Slack ran on to Gould's pass and released David Campese with a wonderfully judged long feed."

Early in the second half, Australian fullback Roger Gould had the chance to pass to Campese for a possible try. Terry Cooper writes that, "There was Gould once more making the play and he had a choice of two colleagues to pass to as he approached Scotland's line. He chose Ella, the inside man. Ella's try meant that he had achieved the unique distinction of scoring a try in every Test."

Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby writes that, "A superb Wallaby counterattack from deep inside their own territory, after winger Grigg had taken an intercept, ended with Campese scoring his second try of the game."

Toward the end of the game Campese booted the ball downfield. Australia's other winger, Peter Grigg, missed a tackle, allowing Scotland a possible chance to counter-attack. Grigg ran back toward the play, and intercepted the ball from Scottish prop Iain Milne. Rugby writer Terry Cooper writes that from this point:

Simon Poidevin in For Love Not Money writes that, "Finally, our fourth try was the most marvellous piece of counter-attacking you'd ever want to see. Griggy intercepted a Scottish pass, flicked it back and off we went until Campese straightened up, gave to Tuynman on the left flank and The Bird then turned it back in for Campo to make a 50-metre dash for the line."

Terry Smith in Path to Victory writes that:

In the tribute book David Campese, Scottish rugby commentator Bill McLaren recalls Campese's try against Scotland, "So it was in Edinburgh, where in 1984 he had brought the Murrayfield crowd to its feet with a vintage performance culminating in a typically gorgeous try, that I caused him some embarrassment by thanking him for the vast pleasure he had given me in commentary at matches in which he had been involved." McLaren further wrote that:

Australia 37 – Barbarians 30 (Cardiff – 18 December 1984)

Australia played against the Barbarians one week after winning the Grand Slam. That match is perhaps best remembered for David Campese's zig-zagging run that turned Welsh centre Robert Ackerman inside out in the process, before Campese, opting not to run past Ackerman in the process of confounding him, but rather offered himself to be tackled before passing the ball to Michael Hawker for a try.

Campese and Ackerman had encountered a few personal scrapes with one another during different moments of their careers. Ackerman had previously played club rugby in Canberra not long before the Barbarians game, and according to Mark Ella in his book, Running Rugby, the two men did not get along with each other. After the Wallabies 1984 win against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park, Campese claimed Ackerman had buried his head in the dirt during the game, adding to a sense of tension between the two.

This tension further increased between the two, as Ackerman bumped into David Campese, Michael Lynagh and then Australian coach, Alan Jones, as they were entering the Angel Hotel in Cardiff. Ackerman walked up to the Wallabies coach and said in the presence of the two Australian backs, after Australia had beaten Wales 28–9, "Congratulations, I didn't think your backs were too good today."

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese recalls that, "That very night in Cardiff, only hours after we had flogged Wales 28-9, their players turned up at the after-match dinner and one of them, Robert Ackerman, said: 'You can't say your players are better individually than ours. Man on man, there is little difference'."

Alan Jones described Campese's run in the tribute book David Campese by writing that:

In Running Rugby Mark Ella described famous run against the Barbarians:

In an Australia Broadcast Corporation rugby documentary entitled, The Rise and Rise of Australian Rugby, Ackerman admitted Campese could have passed him at any stage if he wanted to:

Campese received praise for other moments in this game. Rugby writer Terry Cooper wrote that,

Campese finished the 1984 Tour to the United Kingdom with six tries, two of them scored at Test level against Scotland.

1985

Australia commenced their 1985 Test season with a two-Test series against Canada, in which Campese did not play due to injury." Campese also did not play in the single Bledisloe Cup Test in 1985, lost 9-10 to New Zealand. In Path to Victory former Australian rugby player Mark Ella wrote that, "Without David Campese, our backs seemed to have forgotten how to score tries."

Australia v Fiji (1985)

Campese returned to the Australian Test side later in 1985 for a two-Test series against Fiji. Australia won the first Test 52-28 and the second Test 31-9. In Path to Victory: Wallaby Power in the 1980s Mark Ella writes that, "Fiji's stand-out player is winger Senivalati Laulau, who can be devastating when he gets the ball. He looks ancient and probably is, but he's very fast and always gives David Campese a hard time. This says a lot for Laulau's ability."

1986

Australia 39 – Italy 18 (Brisbane – 1 June 1986)

Campese scored two tries against Italy in Australia's first Test of the 1986 season, with what rugby writer Terry Smith in Path to Victory described as "probably his most complete display in Australia's colours."

Australia 27 – France 14 (Sydney – 21 June 1986)

Australia's won their second Test of 1986 against Five Nations champions France, 27-14. Campese was moved to fullback for the injured Roger Gould in a one-off game against France, scoring a try in the 26th minute."

Australia v Argentina (1986)

Campese continued to play at fullback in Australia's 1986 two-Test home series against Argentina, substituting for the injured Australian fullback Roger Gould.

Rugby writer Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold writes that, "David Campese ensured he would start the series against New Zealand in his favoured fullback role when he scored two of Australia's three tries in a whitewash of the Pumas. Deputising in the No.15 jumper for the sixth time in 24 Tests, Campese's running from deep had Argentina running scared. His first try followed a tight-head scrum win, snaffled by hooker Tom Lawton in the 22nd minute. Farr-Jones and Lynagh combined, and Campese crossed out wide... And midway through the second half, Farr-Jones fired a pass to Papworth, Campese arrived at top pace and was over next to the posts."

Rugby writer Terry Smith in Path to Victory writes that, "David Campese scored two slashing tries from fullback, the second quite sensationally executed. Campese hit the line like an express train and swept past the Pumas as though he had caught a succession of green lights. It was his sixth try in four Tests with four of them from fullback."

…

With Campese scoring tries at an amazing rate and providing Australia with a string of dazzling performances, Australian coach Alan Jones proclaimed David Campese to be "the Bradman of rugby". Jones expressed that Campese had a very special talent, and nobody in rugby had more talent. Jones' proclamation was well documented by the Australia media, and ultimately had a detrimental effect on Campese. As the weight of expectation grew, so too did the criticisms for any mistake Campese made.

1986 Bledisloe Cup Test Series

Campese was a member of the 1986 Australia Wallabies that defeated the New Zealand All Blacks in New Zealand. The 1986 Australia Wallabies became the second Australian rugby team to beat the New Zealand All Blacks in New Zealand in a rugby union Test series. They are one of five rugby union sides to win a rugby Test series in New Zealand, along with the 1937 South African Springboks, the 1949 Australian Wallabies, the 1971 British Lions, and the 1994 French touring side.

Campese played fullback in the first two Tests of the 1986 Test series versus New Zealand, before being moved to wing in the final Test.

1st Test: Australia 13 – New Zealand 12 (Wellington – 9 August 1986)

Three moments involving David Campese are frequently recorded in reports of the first Test against New Zealand in 1986. Rugby journalist Terry Smith records in Path to Victory that:

Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold recalls that, "Halfback Farr-Jones made a break but lost his footing. The ball went to ground and fullback David Campese toed it ahead to touch down." He then further adds that "...Farr-Jones and inside centre Brett Papworth combined to feed Campese, who held up his pass to put winger Matthew Burke across for a 13-6 advantage."

Jenkins documents Campese's involvement in Australia's second try in Wallaby Gold by writing that, "From Farr-Jones, the ball spun to Brett Papworth, then to Campese, who held up the pass until winger John Kirwan was lured infield from Burke. Campese then tossed the ball to Burke, who pulled it in to have a clear run to the corner."

Peter Jenkins records that, "Campese, having scored one try and created another, had a significant role in the third, this time for the All Blacks. His infield pass when tackled near halfway finished in the arms of All Black centre Joe Stanley. He swept downfield and, when taken by Lynagh, slipped a pass to flanker Mark Brooke-Cowden for the try."

Terry Smith in Path to Victory also records this incident:

Campese in On a Wing and a Prayer records that, "At Wellington, where the first Test was held, I threw a poor pass towards Matt Burke. Joe Stanley gathered it after the ball bounced and the All Blacks eventually scored. We still won, but only just."

In For Love Not Money Simon Poidevin writes that:

Philip Derriman in The Rise and Rise of Australian Rugby records that, "Australia scored two tries to one, and Campese scored one of them. He also made an error which allowed the New Zealanders in for their only try, prompting Alan Jones to joke that this was the Test 'where Campo scored two tries – one for us and one for them.'

Following the Test Australian coach Alan Jones said of Campese that, "By scoring a try and setting up another, Campese more than cancelled out his late blemish." Jones went public with an assurance that Campese would be fullback for the remaining two Tests. A day following the first Test Campese is recorded as saying that, "I still feel sick about that pass. It was the worst moment of my life. I'll never forget the looks on the faces of the other guys."

Terry Smith records in Path to Victory that

Alan Jones writes in the tribute book David Campese that:

2nd Test: Australia 12 – New Zealand 13 (Dunedin – 23 August 1986)

Australia lost the second Bledisloe Cup Test of 1986 to New Zealand 12-13. Following the Test, claims were made that Australian coach Alan Jones made derogatory remarks about Campese's performance, after the fullback dropped a few 'high-kicks' in very wet conditions.

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese states that, "I was playing full-back and dropped a few bombs the All Blacks put up to me. I had a far from spectacular game and we ended up losing. Afterwards, I went in to have a shower and I could see that Jonsey was very upset... But what right did our coach have to tell the other players, "Don't worry, fellows, you played without a full-back today'. I found that out two days later and you can imagine how I felt."

In For Love Not Money former Wallaby Simon Poidevin refutes such claims by Campese, "Tales of Jonsey screaming at Campese in the dressing-room immediately after the game for the poor way he played that afternoon was absolute nonsense. Nothing at all was said by anyone for nearly three-quarters of an hour, and the only noise I can recall was that of tough men openly sobbing from disappointment."

However, Poidevin's testimony is contradicted by an account published in Nick Farr-Jones: The Authorised Biography which states that: "...the coach turned to the other players and said in a far more conciliatory tone, 'Anyway, don't worry, men. You played without a full-back today.'

In On A Wing and a Prayer Campese asserts he later tried to apologise to Jones for his mistakes, which resulted in a verbal barrage of insults from Jones which lasted many minutes. In Nick Farr-Jones: The Authorised Autobiography a similar account is given by Farr-Jones, overhearing Jones' verbal barrage before Farr-Jones entered the room and attempted to calm the situation.

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese recalls that, "I left that room feeling hurt and humiliated. I did something I virtually never do, as I said much earlier: I went out and got drunk. Outside in the Dunedin night the rain was trickling down the windows and the wind was blowing. It was cold and horrible, which exactly reflected my mood. The drops of rain on the windows could have been tears in my soul."

In David Campese Gordon Bray writes that, "So distraught was he in a nightclub a few hours later, that he declared he was ready to retire from rugby... The world's rugby enthusiasts can be grateful that Mark Ella consoled his teammate that night."

In Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby Alan Jones contested the accusations of slander saying:

3rd Test: Australia 22 – New Zealand 9 (Auckland – 6 September 1986)

In Path to Victory: Wallaby Power in the 1980s the Daily Mirror's Terry Smith writes that, "One very famous player was in danger of losing his Test spot in New Zealand until his team-mates urged Jones to retain him." Australian coach Alan Jones selected Campese on the wing for the final test instead of fullback. This Test marked the first time David Campese opposed All Black winger John Kirwan. Kirwan had missed the 1984 Bledisloe series due to injury. Campese had missed the 1985 Bledisloe Cup Test due to injury.

Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby writes that, "A try to Campese sealed one of the greatest Wallaby wins." In Nick Farr-Jones former Wallaby and author Peter Fitzsimons writes that, "With seven minutes to go in the game, Farr-Jones took the ball from a quick ruck, darted away, and threw Campese a fifteen-metre pass, which set him up to run twenty metres to score, and put the Wallabies thirteen points ahead with five minutes to go. The match was sealed with the final score of Australia 22, New Zealand 9, and in the jubilations of it all Farr-Jones picked Campese up in the in-goal and put him over his shoulders."

In Path to Victory: Wallaby Power in the 1980s Mark Ella wrote: "It was good to see David Campese get that last try because by now he had no confidence at all. He was absolutely shot to pieces. It doesn't really matter in what position Campo plays as long as he sees the ball. It could be wing or it could be fullback. Nobody's going to argue he shouldn't be in the side. The main thing is to build up his confidence, and this can't be done if Campo is just going to chase all day and not see the ball."

In Two Mighty Tribes Australian rugby commentator Gordon Bray wrote that, "...to his great credit, he kept his eye firmly on the ball and eventually scored the Bledisloe Cup-clinching try in the third test at Eden Park. It was a measure of his self-belief and pride, and it demonstrated to the broader rugby community that his was not just another frail talent. There was strength of character to stiffen the extravagant skills."

1987 Rugby World Cup

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese wrote that, "the first-ever World Cup, in 1987, was ultimately a disaster both for Australia and for me personally." Campese played throughout the entire 1987 World Cup impeded by injury. He writes that:

Campese missed a pre-World Cup Test match against South Korea in Brisbane on 17 May 1987 due to injury. However, he made a successful return to the Wallabies for their first World Cup pool match against England.

World Cup Pool Match: Australia 19 – England 6 (Sydney – 23 May 1987)

Campese was involved in the biggest controversy of his first World Cup game against England. Rugby writer Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold records that, "It took 10 minutes into the second half for Australia to score their first try, a controversial one, when Campese went across. He placed the ball on the knee of English rival Rory Underwood before it bounced away and Lynagh grounded it over the English line. But referee Keith Lawrence had already awarded the try to Campese...

Campese later confessed that, "The chief talking-point was the fact that I was awarded a try which I never touched down properly. It was not a score. It you study the video, it is obvious that I was not happy with the decision the referee made..."

Campese's defence in this Test was later criticised by Australian coach Alan Jones.

World Cup Pool Match: Australia 47 – USA 21 (Brisbane – 31 May 1987)

In Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby rugby writer Peter Jenkins documents that, "...individually, there had been some impressive moments. Winger Campese, criticised the week before by Jones for indifferent defence, received after this game a one-word endorsement from the coach: 'Fantastic.' Campese scored a try, his 23rd, just one short of the world record, and produced an inspired flick pass for halfback Brian Smith to cross.

World Cup Pool Match: Australia 42 – Japan 23 (Sydney – 3 June 1987)

Playing at fullback, Campese scored his 24th Test try in Australia's World Cup pool match against Japan, equaling the then world record for tries with Ian Smith of Scotland (1924–33).

World Cup Quarter-Final: Australia 33 – Ireland 15 (Sydney- 7 June 1987)

World Cup Semi-Final: Australia 24 – France 30 (Sydney – 13 June 1987)

The 1987 World Cup semi-final, played between Australia and France, has been described by Campese as "a great game of rugby, one of the very best in which I have ever played. Sensational things, like brilliant scores, started to happen in that game and we just carried on from there." Mark Ella in Running Rugby writes that, "I thought Australia's performance against France in the 1987 World Cup at Concord Oval was one of the most exciting I have seen, even though Australia lost the match on the bell. Brett Papworth and Andrew Slack were the centres, and David Campese was on the wing [Note: Campese played fullback in this Test], and they ran the ball brilliantly from everywhere."

Campese scored his world record 25th Test try after halftime, surpassing Scottish winger Ian Smith's 54-year-old record for most international Test tries. In Blindsided Michael Lynagh recalls the try that gave Campese the world-record for tries at Test level by writing that, "My dummy to wrong-foot Franck Mesnel and a step inside Philippe Sella set up a break deep inside French territory. As he usually did, Campo showed up at the end of the move to score in the corner after Peter Grigg popped the ball inside to him."

Rugby writer Peter Jenkins describes the final moments of the Test thus:

Campese later wrote that, "I was blamed for letting a kick from the French left wing, Patrice Lagisquet, bounce late in our semi-final against France at the Concord Oval, and the French picked up the loose ball to go on and score after a bewildering movement involving 11 passes. However, he later explained that, "The reason I did not catch Lagisquet's kick ahead near the end, when the scores were level at 24-24, was that I slipped in the mud trying to reach it."

World Cup Play-Off For Third: Australia 21- Wales 22 (Rotorua – 18 June 1987)

1987 Bledisloe Cup Test: Australia 16 – New Zealand 30 (Sydney – 25 July 1987)

Campese continued his injury-impeded 1987 season by playing in the one-off Bledisloe Cup Test of 1987, a month after the 1987 Rugby World Cup. Campese played on the right wing, and did not oppose his archrival John Kirwan in this Test.

In My Game Your Game Campese writes that, "It was not a memorable month or two, and later in the year I had to drop out of a major Wallaby tour for the one and only time in my career, when an x-ray of my ankle before we went to Argentina revealed the bone had cracked in half."

Australia v England (1988)

Campese returned to Test level rugby following his ankle injury in 1988 for the two-Test series against England. The first Test in Brisbane on 29 May was won by Australia 22 to England 16. The second Test in Sydney on 12 June was won by Australia 28 to England 8. Campese received acclaim from sports writer Peter Jenkins for his performance in the second Test:

1988 Bledisloe Cup Test Series

Australia were easily beaten in the 1988 Bledisloe Cup. Campese marked All Blacks winger John Kirwan for all three Tests in the series. Kirwan scored four tries in the series. Campese later confessed that Kirwan's excellent performances against him affected his confidence. In the tribute book David Campese, Campese wrote of Kirwan that, "John Kirwan was another winger I really admired. He was a strong aggressive player, and he got the better of me quite a few times. With the ball in his hands JK was very determined. He had a job to do and it did not matter who was in front of him." Kirwan is recorded as saying of Campese that, "It was difficult and daunting to play him because he had all the tricks. I tried to intimidate him as much as I could by getting close to him before I'd step and using my physicality against him."

Australia 19 - New Zealand 19 (Brisbane - 16 July 1988)

Following the Wallabies first Test defeat, the Australian team management planned to move Campese to the fullback position for the second Test, replacing Andrew Leeds. However, Australian flyhalf Michael Lynagh injured himself with a badly corked thigh in the second half of Queensland's 12-27 loss to the All Blacks, leaving Australia without a recognised goal-kicker. Randwick player Lloyd Walker was then selected at flyhalf, Leeds was reinstated at fullback, and Campese moved back to the left-wing position.

Australia rushed to a 16-6 half-time lead. However, a try to John Kirwan, his third Test try in the series, brought New Zealand back into the Test.

The final score of 19-19 was the only time the All Blacks did not win a game of rugby from 1987 until late 1990.

Australia 9 - New Zealand 30

Australia lost the third and final 1988 Bledisloe Cup Test convincingly, 9-30. Late in the Test, Campese was moved to fullback to replace the injured Andrew Leeds. It was then that John Kirwan scored his fourth Test try of the series after a break from All Black openside flanker Michael Jones. Rugby journalist Spiro Zavos gives an account of Kirwan's try in Two Mighty Tribes:

1988 Australian rugby union tour of England, Scotland and Italy

Campese recovered from his disappointing 1988 Bledisloe Cup Series to enjoy one of his finest ever tours on the 1988 Australia rugby union tour of England, Scotland and Italy. In My Game Your Game Campese wrote that, "When I think back over my Test career, it seems most of my best performances have been outside Australia, such as the World Cup of 1991 in Britain, the Wallaby tour of the UK in 1988, and the Grand Slam trip in 1984. Andrew Slack in Noddy: The Official Biography of Michael Lynagh writes that, "Lynagh, more than most, recognises genius, and he admitted the performances of Campese throughout that tour were certainly in that class."

Australia 19 – England 28 (London – 5 November 1988)

Campese played in a shock-loss to England at Twickenham in 1988. Jenkins writes that, "Australia scored three tries to England's four – including a 70-metre intercept effort from Campese..."

Australia 32 – Scotland 13 (Edinburgh – 19 November 1988)

Campese scored two tries in a 32-13 victory over the Scottish rugby team, in which Australia scored five tries to Scotland's two. Former Wallaby captain Andrew Slack, author of Noddy: The Official Biography of Michael Lynagh, wrote that, "Australia won 32-13 and although Lynagh was successful with only five kicks from eleven attempts, two delicate chip kicks provided tries for David Campese and ensured the restoration of Australia's rugby reputation." Slack further wrote that, "Campese had been the undoubted star of the tour, and that was made clear by the four youngsters who ran up and down the Murrayfield pitch after the game waving a large banner reading 'David Campese Walks on Water.'

Australia 40 – 22 Barbarians (Cardiff – 26 November 1988)

In Noddy: The Authorised Biography of Michael Lynagh, Andrew Slack wrote that, "The match against the Barbarians in Cardiff featured one of Campese's greatest-ever performances and the Welsh crowd afforded him the rare honour of a standing ovation as he left the field. The Australian players were similarly impressed and held back after the full-time whistle to allow Campese the chance to walk off first...

In Campo: Still Entertaining Campese writes that Cardiff Arms Park is "Certainly the venue I have fondest memories of after a standing ovation the crowd there gave me in 1988. It was during a Barbarians match, and my attacking game was about as finely-tuned as it had ever been. I had made a couple of really good runs and, after setting up one try and scoring another, the crowd got to their feet and clapped me back to halfway. I'll never forget it."

In the tribute book David Campese, Campese's try against the Barbarians is listed as the try Campese regards "as his best try in international rugby."In the same book Scottish rugby commentator Bill McLaren wrote that:

In My Game Your Game Campese wrote that:

In Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby Peter Jenkins wrote that Campese's "brilliance was accorded a standing ovation at Cardiff Arms Park after the Wallabies played the Barbarians in their final match of the UK leg. His bewildering run for a solo try, where defenders were turned in circles so many times that staggered dizzily back to position, has been scripted into the folklore of the once-famous ground..."

In Running Rugby Mark Ella described a run Campese made in this Test by writing that:

Australia 55 – Italy 6 (Rome – 3 December 1988)

Campese concluded the Australian Wallabies 1988 Tour to Europe with three tries against Italy in Rome.

Australia v British Lions (1989)

The British Lions toured Australia for a three-Test series in 1989, which Australia lost 1-2. The series is perhaps best known for "Campo's Corner" - a mistake Campese made in the third and deciding Test in the series. Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold describes it thus:

1st Test: Australia 30 – British Lions 12 (Sydney – 1 July 1989)

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese details the first Test by recalling that:

2nd Test: Australia 12 – British Lions 19 (Brisbane – 8 July 1989)

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese documents that, "...the second Test was a disaster for us. We still led the Lions 12-9 with under five minutes remaining, but we had been badly put off our game. The Lions had done that, plainly and simply, by intimidating us." He further states that:

Rugby journalist Wayne Smith in The Sunday Mail wrote that, ""But in the space of the final five breathtaking minutes, the Lions pulled their tour out of the fire with two stunning tries – the first by fullback Gavin Hastings, the second by centre Jeremy Guscott.

"There was more than a degree of doubt about the legality of Hastings’ try, as the huge final pass from his brother Scott appeared forward, but the match-clincher three minutes later by Guscott could be traced back directly to Australian left winger David Campese, who dropped two high balls in the space of a minute."

In Blindsided Michael Lynagh writes that, "For the second Test up in Brisbane the Lions had a specific method. It was, 'Let's target their halfback.' They figured that they couldn't stop guys like Campo and me running the game, so they thought, 'Okay, how do we stop the ball getting to them? Let's cut off the supply.' So they decided to upset our captain, Nick, by basically making the game one long physical fight. It worked... Once they'd upset Nick. they started kicking at Campo, kicking behind him, putting pressure on him all the time. The Lions were just a different team from the first Test.

In Beware of the Dog: Rugby's Hard Man Reveals All, Lions’ hooker Brian Moore recollects that, "...I had been on the Lions tour in 1989 when Campese, though a brilliant attacking force, had demonstrated his dislike of fielding high kicks; particularly the possibility of also being caught by a pack of forwards only too happy to be given a chance to answer his fulsome criticism of them in their own way."

3rd Test: Australia 18 v British Lions 19 (Sydney – 15 July 1989)

In the tribute book David Campese, rugby commentator Gordon Bray wrote that, "David Campese likes to play his rugby on the highwire -without a safety net. When he slips, the result can be catastrophic." (p6)

In On a Wing and a Prayer, writing about the 3rd Test between Australia and the British Lions from 1989, Campese states: "That Test created a memory of me which I suppose some people will retain to their dying day."

Former Australian rugby captain Andrew Slack in Noddy: The Authorised Biography of Michael Lynagh writes that:

Peter Fitzsimons documents in Nick Farr-Jones: The Authorised Autobiography that:

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese gives a description of his mistake:

In The Rise and Rise of Australian Rugby Philip Derriman writes that:

Former British and Irish Lion Jeremy Guscott in Behind the Lions uttered similar sentiments about the Lions being exposed in defence out wide by recalling that:

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese writes that:

Campese's error made the scoreline 12-13, following Gavin Hastings missed conversion, costing Australia four points. The Lions forwards took over the Test, and surged ahead to a 19-12 lead. Following Campese's famous mistake, the Wallabies had an attacking opportunity from set-piece play, and Michael Lynagh called a move that, if executed properly, would have led to Campese scoring under the posts. Scott Hastings recalls in Behind the Lions that:

Campese records in his autobiography that, "We were 19-12 down but closed the gap to 19-18 with two more penalties from Lynagh. Andrew Slack records that, "Despite two late Lynagh goals the Lions went on to win 19-18. Campese became the target for a virulent press and the blunder has become one of the most notorious incidents in the recent history of the game."

Campese further records in his autobiography that following the Test not one Australian player spoke to him or offered him any consolatory remarks. Only Australian coach Bob Dwyer approached Campese following the Test and said, 'Mate, forget it. It's one of those things.' Campese writes that, "No one will ever know how much that meant to me then." In Blindsided Michael Lynagh recalls that during the after-match reception the Lions began to buy Campese champagne. Campese left the after-match reception after "20 minutes or so" and drove home. While on his way home a police officer booked him for speeding at 104 kmh in a 60 kmh zone.

Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby records that:

In The Winning Way former Australian coach Bob Dwyer writes that, "They exposed our vulnerability, mentally, to the kind of bully-boy tactics they employed... there was a mental attitude prevailing in the Australian team in the late 1980s which made Australia a soft target for any team which sets out to unsettle it with foul play."

Australian flanker Simon Poidevin, who didn't play in the Test and watched it from the stands, wrote in For Love Not Money that Australia were "beaten in the deciding Test by a much more convincing margin than the 19-18 scoreline indicated. Something was well and truly missing from our game and it was very sad to watch." The official website of the British and Irish Lions utters similar sentiments to Bob Dwyer's about the dominance of the Lions forwards.

Finlay Calder, captain of the 1989 British & Irish Lions, in Behind the Lions, also argued that Campese's mistake didn't cost the Australia national rugby union team the series, asserting that:

In essence, Campese's famous blunder may have been how the Lions series was lost, but not necessarily why.

Campese stated he felt the whole incident was blown out of proportion, and that to single out one mistake in a game where many mistakes can be made is silly. Campese has often expressed his view that losing the tighthead on the opposition line was also a horrible mistake made at a crucial moment.

The day following the 3rd Test versus the Lions, Campese commented to Peter Jenkins, rugby writer for The Australian, that he felt like retiring.

Peter Fitzsimons documents in Nick Farr-Jones: The Authorised Autobiography that, "...a brief media storm erupted over the next few days to decide, in the words of the Australian rugby writer Greg Campbell, whether Campese was a 'legend or a liability'."

Jeremy Guscott in Behind the Lions recalls that:

Wayne Smith in The Sunday Mail wrote, "How much longer can the Wallabies afford to carry a player who appears to feel the mundane, humdrum basics of rugby are beneath his extraordinary talents and who places applause ahead of responsibility to his teammates?" In the same paper former Australian captain Andrew Slack wrote that Campese should not even be considered for a place in the tour-closing Anzac XV side. Slack wrote that, "Campese, who comes and goes as he chooses, makes too many ‘one-off’ bad mistakes when wearing the green and gold." He further opined that, "His teammates deserve to be, and undoubtedly will be, disgusted with him."

In My Game Your Game Campese writes that:

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese writes that:

Slack defended himself as the author of Michael Lynagh's biography saying that, "Although accepting the blame, Campese reacted poorly to the criticism that followed... Sure, other players may not have performed at their best at some stages of the game, but one incident lost them the contest and that was Campese's error." Slack further criticised Campese for hypocrisy. Responding to criticisms that Campese made regarding Michael Lynagh for his performance in the first Test against France from 1990, Slack wrote that,

In response to the rush of criticisms aimed at Campese, Nick Farr-Jones, the then Australian captain, wrote a letter to The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper defending Campese on 19 July 1989 writing that, "To Campo I say: Yes, one bad mistake on Saturday which I know you will learn from, but, mate, if I was a selector you would always be one of the first picked, with no handcuffs or chains to inhibit you."

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese writes that, "I can honestly say that even six months after that match, some Australian journalists who used to call me at all hours of the day and night when it suited them had still not spoken to me. Not that I was heartbroken at that state of affairs, but it brought home to me the way some of those guys react."

The harsh reaction to Campese's error did not subside. His brother Mario was attacked while leaving a Canberra nightclub shortly after the 1989 British Lions series. To protect Campese's frame of mind, his family concealed his brother's attacking for months to prevent him from becoming more emotionally upset.

In My Game Your Game Campese later confessed that:

Campese later spoke to Australian captain Nick Farr-Jones, a lawyer by profession, if he could take legal action over the ad. However, no legal proceedings eventuated.

Campo's Corner has been forever since linked with Campese's legacy of highs and lows. As a rugby player heavily into credit when weighing his positive contributions against his negative contributions to the game of rugby, people have tended to ponder upon his weaknesses; this is partly due to the strong memory of Campo's Corner.

1989 Bledisloe Cup Test: Australia 12 – New Zealand 24 (Auckland – 5 August 1989)

Campese played in the one-off Bledisloe Cup Test in 1989 between Australia and New Zealand. The Test, which Australia lost 12-24, contains a Campese try. Australia's eightman Steve Tuynman took the ball from the back of a scrum and passed the ball to Nick Farr-Jones. Farr-Jones passed the ball to Campese, who stepped around John Kirwan causing him to slip over. Campese then passed to Farr-Jones who had looped him. As Farr-Jones and Campese were running down the sideline, and with Farr-Jones about to be tackled into touch, Campese pointed forwards signalling Farr-Jones to kick the ball forwards. Farr-Jones executed a grubber kick. Campese and All Blacks inside centre John Schuster were engaged in a sprint towards the ball. As Schuster tried to dive on the ball, Campese was able to kick the ball forwards and fall upon it.

Australia v France (1989)

In late 1989 Australia played a two-Test series against France. The two-Test series marked what would be the start of five consecutive Tests that Australia would play against France from 1989 to 1990.

Australia 32 – France 15 (Strasbourg – 4 November 1989)

In the first Test in Strasbourg, France suffered what was then its biggest defeat on its soil with a score of 32 to 15. It was also Australia's then highest score against France and their biggest ever winning margin against France.

Following a halftime score of 10-12, Australia scored three of its four tries in the second half. Campese scored the third of these four tries by recovering a high-kick from Nick Farr-Jones that wasn’t properly fielded by French winger Stéphane Weller. Campese was involved in Australia's fourth and final try by occupying French centre Philippe Sella with a goosestep, before delivering the final pass to Tim Horan who scored his second try in the Test.

Former Australian rugby union captain Nick Farr-Jones later described Australia's 1989 Test in Strasbourg as his favourite moment as an international rugby union player. Five Australian players made their Test debut: Jason Little, Brendon Nasser, Peter FitzSimons, Rod McCall, and Darren Junee (who played as a substitute). Australian hooker Phil Kearns, prop Tony Daly, and centre Tim Horan played their second Tests for Australia in that Test. The Test also marked the first time Austranian centre combination Tim Horan and Jason Little played in tandem with one another for Australia.

Rugby writer Peter Jenkins documented that, "It was a team of little experience outside the Holy Trinity of Campese, Lynagh and skipper Farr-Jones."

Australia 19 – France 25 (Lille – 11 November 1989)

France won the second Test played in Lille 25 to 19. Campese played his 48th Test in this match.

Australia v France (1990)

In 1990 Campese was dropped from an Australian Test side for the first time since his debut for the Wallabies in New Zealand on the 1982 tour. Campese was omitted because he did not return early enough from Italy and therefore Australian selectors could not assess his form in a club match.

2nd Test: Australia 48 – France 31 (Brisbane – 24 June 1990)

Campese returned for the second Test against France in what Australian Rugby Union president Joe French described as the best Test match of rugby he had ever seen. Described by Simon Poidevin as "a breathtaking 48-31 victory" which "will go down in history as one of the finest ever played", he writes that, "The match contained ten tries and produced one short of 80 points. The 48 points scored by Australia is the most it has scored against an International Rugby Board member country. The try count of six, which included a penalty try, was also the highest number of tries scored against a fellow IRB country."

Described by Andrew Slack as a "ten-try bonanza", Welsh referee Clive Norling came under scrutiny by Slack who commented, "A close study of the video replay shows that Norling made at least six major mistakes, five of which led to points before scored." In Noddy Slack writes that, "As Lynagh lined up for goal, there was Norling nattering away in the background. 'Great swerve by Campese. Good advantage played there, boyo.'}}

Perhaps the most well-documented moment of the Test came when French fullback Serge Blanco beat a Campese tackle to score a try. Simon Poidevin recalls that, "...the one memory which stands out is the amazing try scored by Serge Blanco. Taking the ball on his own line, the French captain sliced between Carozza and Little on the quarter line before swerving past Campese at halfway. Then Blanco beat Williams, Carozza and Campese in the run to the line to score one of the greatest individual tries of all time."

In Campo: Still Entertaining Campese selected Blanco at fullback in his greatest international XV of all-time team, writing that, "In 1990 we played France in a three-Test series at home before a tour of New Zealand, and Serge scored one of the greatest international tries during the second game in Brisbane. He carried the ball about 80m for the score and never once looked like he was getting out of second gear. Because of that languid running style, Blanco was deceptively quick, as we found out that afternoon..."

However, Campese would score the final try of the Test by running past Blanco. Australia had a scrum inside France's 22 in front of the goal-posts. Campese stood on the left-hand attacking side of the scrum. As Farr-Jones took the ball from the back of the scrum and started to run to the right, Campese followed Nick Farr-Jones. Nick Farr-Jones shaped to pass the ball to Australian eightman Tim Gavin, which held-up Blanco and French eightman Olivier Roumat. Nick Farr-Jones passed to Campese, who ran through a gap and past Blanco before evading Roumat coming across in cover defence, to score a try untouched.

3rd Test: Australia 19 – France 28 (Sydney – 30 June 1990)

Campese played in the third Test against France in Sydney, which was lost 19-28. However, this Test marked a milestone for Campese. He became just the second person, after Simon Poidevin, to play 50 Test matches of rugby for Australia. He also capped this Test with the 36th try in Test match rugby.

Australia 67 – U.S.A. 9 (Brisbane – 8 July 1990)

Prior to Australia's 1990 three-Test tour to New Zealand, Australia played a one-off Test against the U.S.A, in which Campese played. The Test contains the only instance in Campese's career where he successfully completed a drop-goal. Campese also scored a try.

1990 Bledisloe Cup Test Series

Australia 6 v New Zealand 21 (Christchurch – 21 July 1990)

Campese played his 52nd Test for Australia in Australia's first Test against New Zealand in 1990, becoming the most capped Australian rugby player in history, surpassing Simon Poidevin's record of 51 Tests. Poidevin had made himself unavailable to play for Australia on Australia's 1990 tour to New Zealand. In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese recalls that:

Playing on the left wing, Campese opposed All Blacks right-wing John Kirwan. Kirwan scored a try by running onto a cut-out pass sprinting at full pace, and out-running Campese to score a try in the corner.

Australia 17 v New Zealand 27 (Auckland – 4 August 1990)

Campese was selected at fullback for the second Test against New Zealand, replacing Greg Martin who was dropped following the first Test. All Blacks hooker Sean Fitzpatrick scored a try early in the Test, after All Blacks winger John Kirwan ran down the blindside, fended off Nick Farr-Jones, and was able to pass the ball inside to Fitzpatrick while being tackled by Campese. Campese responded later in the Test by passing the ball to Willie Ofahengaue for a try while being tackled by opposing All Blacks fullback Kieran Crowley. Ofahengaue powered over a Kirwan attempted tackle. In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese remembers that:

Following Flett's missed opportunity, the All Blacks went downfield. John Kirwan ran down the blindside, and fended Campese off at fullback, before slipping a pass to New Zealand halfback Graeme Bachop, who slipped under a Campese tackle-attempt to score the final try of the Test.

Australia 21 – New Zealand 9 (Wellington – 18 August 1990)

Australia defeated New Zealand in the third Bledisloe Cup Test of 1990, ending New Zealand's undefeated streak of 50 games including 23 Tests. In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese writes that:

1991

Australia 63 – Wales 6 (Brisbane – 21 July 1991)

Campese played in Australia's first Test of the 1991 season against Wales, which was won by Australia 63-6. Campese scored one try in the Test. He would later write that it was "...a Test that resembled a training run for the Wallabies."

Australia 40 – England 15 (Sydney – 27 July 1991)

England toured Australia in 1991 for one Test. England were Five Nations champions having won the Grand Slam in 1991.

Campese scored two tries against England. With Australia leading 9-6, Campese's first try was scored "on the half-hour" when Australian captain Nick Farr-Jones executed a "box-kick" that exposed England's outside backs following a "22 drop-out." Campese received a favourable bounce and scored a try.

Campese scored his second try after some interplay between Australia's backrow and backs from the back of a scrum. From the back of a scrum, Nick Farr-Jones passed the ball to Tim Horan, while Australia's eightman Tim Gavin and Farr-Jones both looped Horan. Gavin received a pass from Horan and passed the ball to Farr-Jones, who occupied Campese's opposing winger, and passed the ball to an unmarked Campese, who scored the try.

Campese would later write that "...of all the Test matches I've played, this would be the closest to perfection any Australian side has reached." He further added that "technically we just couldn't be faulted. The Wallabies did nothing wrong the whole game... The moves we tried worked a charm, especially from the back of scrums, and everything just fell into place."

1991 Bledisloe Cup Test Series

Australia 21 – New Zealand 12 (Sydney - 10 August 1991)

Australia defeated New Zealand in the first Bledisloe Cup Test of 1991, 21 points to 12. It was Campese's 57th Test for the Wallabies.

Australia 3 – New Zealand 6 (Auckland - 24 August 1991)

Australia lost the second Test of the 1991 Bledisloe Cup series to New Zealand 6-3 in a tryless match. Andrew Slack in Noddy: The Authorised Biography of Michael Lynagh wrote that, "Slippery conditions, wind and a pedantic referee made this game of rugby look like slow-moving chess." Wallabies' flyhalf Michael Lynagh kicked one goal from seven attempts, while All Black flyhalf Grant Fox kicked two goals from five attempts. Andrew Slack recorded that, "...Australia was awarded a penalty with fifty-seven seconds of the match left... Lynagh was two metres outside the quarter line and eight metres in from touch. Success would level the scores at 6-all. With the win in Sydney behind them, a draw would be good enough to snare the cup." Slack further reported that:

Scottish referee Ken McCarthy came under scrutiny following the Test for his performance. Wallaby flanker Simon Poidevin, in For Love Not Money, criticised McCarthy "for effectively destroying the Test as a spectacle." Poidevin recorded that, "There were no fewer than 33 penalties and too few (none, in fact, that come to mind) advantages played." Bob Dwyer in The Winning Way disagreed with Poidevin's criticisms of Scottish referee Ken McCarthy, writing that:

In My Game Your Game Campese remembered that, "...that loss in New Zealand also had a positive effect. We made a lot of mistakes and the All Blacks managed only a narrow win. I knew that day that we'd beat New Zealand whenever we came across them at the World Cup. It was the first time I could ever recall looking ahead and thinking we'd beat those guys."

1991 Rugby Union World Cup

David Campese once said, "I want to be remembered like Barry John in Wales. I want people to look back and say Campo did this, this and this." After the 1991 Rugby World Cup former Welsh rugby great Barry John said, "Like Pelé, he is associated with the very best and historic moments in sport; he has a special genius which shows an individual can still paint his own portrait and leave an indelible mark for all to treasure. The ingredients are all the same: stature, presence, personality, style and an immense belief in the God-given talents."

David Campese was named Player of the Tournament for the 1991 Rugby World Cup. French rugby newspaper Midi-Olimpique named Campese number one in its World Rugby Top 10. Moreover, Campese was voted the 1991 Australian Society of Rugby Writers Player of the Year. Sports writer Peter Jenkins documented that "...winger David Campese produced sustained brilliance at the World Cup to be hailed, indisputably, as the greatest player in the world... Former World Cup winning Australian flanker Simon Poidevin described Campese as "our undoubted star" and praised him for playing "the best he'd ever played". He further called him "the best attacking player in the world" and "definitely the star performer in the World Cup". Former Wallaby and author Peter FitzSimons has said that "in attack... he was without peer..." Former Australian coach Alan Jones wrote that, "His performance at the 1991 World Cup was phenomenal – without him and the incredible Michael Lynagh, Australia would have sunk without a trace." Former Australian flyhalf Mark Ella wrote that the 1991 Rugby World Cup was "the tournament that clearly established him as the best in the world." Australia's 1991 World Cup-winning captain Nick Farr-Jones has stated that without Campese Australia might not have won the World Cup.

1991 World Cup Pool Match – Australia 39 – 19 Argentina (Llanelli – 4 October 1991)

Australia started the 1991 Rugby World Cup with a pool match against Argentina, in which Campese scored two tries and created a third. In Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby rugby writer Peter Jenkins writes that:

Sports commentator Peter Meares and rugby author Maxwell Howell give an account of Australia's first 1991 World Cup Pool Match in Wallaby Legends, "The Pumas made a game of it for the first twenty minutes, rarely allowing the Wallabies any possession. Whatever scraps came Australia's way were booted downfield by Michael Lynagh... Campese hadn't touched the ball. The body language said it all. He stood, hands on hips, legs crossed, leaning against a goalpost." Campese later recalled that "...I took a breather at one stage by leaning against a goalpost. I remember being asked how I could do such a thing during an important game. It was no big deal. Argentina had already had a few scrums on our line, and they were intent on getting a pushover try." Meares and Howell write that:

1991 World Cup Pool Match – Australia 9 – Western Samoa 3 (Pontypool – 9 October 1991)

Campese played in Australia's second World Cup Pool Match against Western Samoa on the right wing, in which he became the first person to play 60 Test matches for Australia. Australia defeated Western Samoa by scoring three penalty goals (kicked by Michael Lynagh) to one penalty goal kicked by Western Samoa.

1991 World Cup Pool Match – Australia 38 – Wales 3 (Cardiff – 12 October 1991)

1991 World Cup Quarter Final – Australia 19 – Ireland 18 (Dublin – 20 October 1991)

Campese scored the first try of the Test in the first half off the World Cup Quarter Final off a backline move "Originally code-named 'Stellenbosch' after the famous South African University and through the passage of time abbreviated to 'S'..." In Noddy Michael Lynagh explains that:

In Blindsided Lynagh recalls that, "...I'd get the ball from a lineout and pass to Timmy Horan, then he'd start to go across field with his centre partner, Jason Little, almost toward the corner flag. Then Campo could come from the open side and cut back late and counter-intuitively go inside, beating the defence, we hoped."

In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese recalls that:

Campese scored his second try off a move entitled "cut-two-loop", a move Australia also called in the final moments of the quarter-final to score a Test-winning try. In The Winning Way Bob Dwyer recalls that, "Australia had scored a try with exactly the same move, in exactly the same position on the field, earlier in the same half, and on this occasion Campese scored the try as planned."

With five minutes left in the Test, a defensive lapse from Campese led to an Irish try which gave them an 18-15 lead. In On a Wing and a Prayer Campese writes that, "...Ireland suddenly set the whole of Dublin roaring as Gordon Hamilton, their flanker, stormed away for a try. I was partly my fault; I slipped and failed to kill the loose ball one of their players had kicked through. It was picked up and Hamilton came up like an express train to run 40 yards to score."

In Blindsided Lynagh recalls that, "We kept nudging ahead in the game, doing just enough, until a little mistake somewhere in defence when we were recovering a kick-through allowed the Irish flanker Gordon Hamilton to go over in the corner with four minutes left."

In the final minutes of the Test, Australia trailing 15-18, Australia kicked off long. Irish scrum-half Rob Saunders "sliced his kick badly", about "fifteen metres" "inside their twenety-two." Australia won the ensuing line-out. Lynagh writes that he called a play that brought Campese back towards the forwards:

Australia "got the put-in to the scrum on the left-hand side of the field" Lynagh called "cut-two-loop" one more time. In Noddy Andrew Slack writes that:

In The Winning Way World Cup-winning Australian coach Bob Dwyer described the final moments of the Test between Australian and Ireland by recalling that:

Lynagh scored the Test-winning try, and Australia won 19-18.

1991 World Cup Semi Final – Australia 16 – 6 New Zealand (Dublin – 27 October 1991)

Campese's performance in the 1991 Rugby World Cup semi-final has been described by former Australian coach Bob Dwyer as Campese's signature Test in his career. In an ABC documentary entitled The Rise and Rise of Australian Rugby Dwyer stated that, "I must say that throughout the 1991 World Cup, and this semi-final match in particular, Campo was a standout performer. We all know what a great player he was over such a long period of time, but I’m sure that his first-half performance that day has never been beaten."

Prior to the start of the Test, Campese did not stand in-front of the haka, instead opting to practice his kicking downfield.

Australia defeated New Zealand 16-6 in the 1991 Rugby World Cup semi-final, in which Campese was a decisive factor. Rugby writer Philip Derriman records that, "David Campese made two stunning interventions in the play which produced the only tries of the match and thus were responsible for Australia's 16-6 win."

Rugby writer Peter Jenkins records that, "Campese scored the first Wallaby try in the 12th minute [Note: It was the 6th minute], drifting off the blind wing into the five-eighth position to take the first pass from the ruck. He then angled across field to turn his archrival, John Kirwan, inside out before touching down. In the 35th minute he gathered a chip-kick from Lynagh, avoided one defender and drew two others before lobbing a basketball pass, without looking, over his right shoulder for centre Horan to score."

In The Winning Way Bob Dwyer writes that:

Dwyer continues in The Winning Way to describe Campese's second famous intervention by writing that:

In For Love Not Money Simon Poidevin writes:

In Running Rugby Mark Ella wrote of Campese's pass to Tim Horan that, "Campese's over-the-shoulder pass to Tim Horan in the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in 1991 must be ranked as close to the ultimate of its type. I cannot think of another player in the world who could have managed it." A description of Campese's try is further illustrated in the same book, which states that:

Following the Test All Blacks coach Alex Wyllie remarked, "There's always Campo, and when you've got a player like that in your team you always know probably something is going to happen. He did it again – he just pulled that one out. An individual like that: one day he could probably blow it, but the other four days he could make it. It was just unfortunate he made it against us."

Following the tournament former Irish fly-half Tony Ward said of Campese that, "He is the Maradona, the Pelé of international Rugby all rolled into one. You cannot put a value on his importance to our game. He is a breath of fresh air and I think perhaps the greatest player of all time." Ward continued:

Clem Thomas of The Observer wrote following the Test that, "it will always be remembered as Campese's match..." In 2013 former New Zealand rugby player Sean Fitzpatrick wrote that, "One man can never win a match on his own but he came as close to that as is possible with his display in the 1991 World Cup semi-final. We were beaten by half-time." British rugby writer Stephen Jones added, "If I had to put together the greatest rugby match I've ever seen I'd have the first half of Australia versus New Zealand in '91 in Dublin…"

1991 World Cup Final – Australia 12 – 6 England (London – 2 November 1991)

Following England's 1991 Rugby World Cup semi-final victory over Scotland in a tryless Test, Campese led a media campaign designating England as a boring rugby team. Campese said that if he played for England, he would insist on playing the flyhalf position because it would be the only way he could touch the ball. Campese is quoted as saying, 'I wouldn't play for England even if you paid me' and 'Playing that sort of boring stuff is a good way to destroy the image of the game. They're all so scared of losing over here they won't try anything.' He further added that 'England would never beat us in the World Cup because they are a bunch of Toffs, and we are convicts.'

Australia won the 1991 World Cup Final by beating England 12-6. Campese did not have much "ball possession" in the final, as evidenced by the fact that Australian flyhalf Michael Lynagh only touched the ball 17 times in the Test, as opposed to English flyhalf Rob Andrew, who touched the ball 41 times. However, four moments involving David Campese are often recorded in reports of the final.

Campese came close to scoring a try in the early stages of the first half of the final. Bob Dwyer recalls in The Winning Way that, "We were deprived of one try when a ball which Campese chipped ahead after making a break down the right wing bounced backwards and touched the referee, who consequently had to call a scrum." Dwyer also wrote that, "If the ball had not taken an eccentric bounce and hit the referee, who was therefore obliged to set a scrum, this would certainly have resulted in a try."

Australia scored their only try of the 1991 World Cup Final in the 26th minute. Campese's "chasing" played an indirect part in the lead-up to Australia's first try. Simon Poidevin recalls in For Love Not Money that, "He [Tim Horan] took a bomb near his own line, spun out of the defence and sprinted 60m before kicking ahead..." Bob Dwyer records that, "Tim Horan had chipped ahead in a marvellous counter-attack from his own 22, and Campese had chased the ball and forced a lineout in the corner." Australia scored moments later off a rolling maul. Dwyer noted that, "The key to the whole exercise was Horan's grubber kick. If it had gone into touch, England would have had the put-in."

Campese was involved in the biggest controversy of the World Cup Final in the 69th minute. English flanker Peter Winterbottom attempted a pass to Campese's opposing winger Rory Underwood, who at that stage "may have had an overlap," when Campese knocked the ball forward. The referee ruled it a deliberate knock-on and awarded England a penalty." The English hooker, Brian Moore, thought the referee should have awarded a penalty try. Moore was reported after the Test to have said, "[Campese] sets himself up as the saviour of rugby. Yet when it comes down to it he's as cynical as anyone. I wouldn't criticise Campese except he called me mad as a hatter earlier this week." Moore writes in Beware of the Dog: Rugby's Hard Man Reveals All that, ‘I have no issue with what Campese did; I would have done the same, and he got away with it. The point I make about what he did is that, as he has been shown to be as cynical as the rest of us, I don’t now want to hear lectures from him about the spirit of the game.’

Australian flanker Simon Poidevin records that, "English critics claimed later that a penalty try should have been awarded, but there was no certainty that Underwood would have scored with our defence converging on him as fast as they were." Australian coach Bob Dwyer later added that, "He [the referee] could easily have ruled that the ball was simply passed into Campese's extended arm and that Campese made no deliberate attempt to hit it." Dwyer further added his opinion that the decision did not cost England the final writing that, "Australia would still have been ahead by 12-9, and I see no good reason to believe that England would have improved on that."

In On a Wing and a Prayer David Campese defended himself by stating that, "...I did not deliberately try to slap the ball down when Winterbottom attempted to pass to Underwood in the second half. I was just worried about stopping Winterbottom and I tried to get man and ball by wrapping my arms around him as well as the ball."

In the final stages of the final, Campese was involved in a backline movement that nearly led to an English try. Bob Dwyer records of, "...an unfortunate decision by the Australian backs to run the ball when the backline consisted only of Marty Roebuck, who had moved into five-eighth, Michael Lynagh at inside-centre and David Campese outside him." Dwyer further added that, "Lynagh, having looped Campese well behind the advantage line, lost possession in a tackle, and the England players set off for the try line."

Australian Rugby writer Philip Derriman records that, "...the English broke into the open with the ball well inside Australia's half and looked all but certain to score until the player in possession, Rob Andrew, was brought down in a magnificent diving tackle by John Eales, coming across in cover defence."

Following the 1991 Rugby World Cup former Irish flyhalf Tony Ward said that, "Although the finale is disappointing in terms of entertainment, there's no doubt in anyone's mind that Australia has been the best team and Campese is the outstanding player."

1992

Australia v Scotland (1992)

Scotland toured Australia in 1992 for a two-Test series. Campese scored two tries in Australia's first Test against Scotland, won by Australia 27-12. Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold documents that:

While Australia won the second Test against Scotland 37-13, Campese left the field due to injury, to be replaced by Peter Jorgensen.

Australia 26 – South Africa 3 (Cape Town – 22 August 1992)

On 15 August 1992 South Africa played a rugby Test against New Zealand (lost 24-27), which was their first Test at international level since the International Rugby Board (IRB) banned South Africa from playing international Test-level rugby due to apartheid boycotts. One week later on 22 August 1992 South Africa played the World Champion Wallabies.

In the Test against South Africa, Campese became the first Australian to play 70 Test matches and he became the first rugby player to score 50 tries.

In My Game Your Game Campese recalls that:

In Campo: Still Entertaining Campese writes that

In Full Time: A Coach's Memoir Bob Dwyer remembers that:

1993

Australia 52 - Tonga 14 (Brisbane - 4 July 1993)

Campese commenced his 1993 Test season with the Wallabies, scoring two tries in their 52-14 victory over Tonga.

Australia v South Africa (1993)

Australia 12 - South Africa 19 (Sydney - 31 July 1993)

Early in the first Test against South Africa, Campese was involved in a scuffle with Springboks Pieter Muller and James Small.

In the final 10 minutes of the first half, Springbok inside centre Heinrich Füls executed a kick, forcing Campese to run back and field it, while he and Springbok outside centre Pieter Muller gave chase. Campese was unable to field the ball, and instead slipped over the ball about a metre from the Australian try-line, allowing Muller to gather the ball and score the try.

In the documentary of Campese's career, Campese: Rugby's My Life, Campese confessed that he perhaps "tried too hard" in this Test, trying to compensate for his early mistake.

Following Campese's first Test performance, Alec Evans, the assistant coach of Australia's 1984 Grand Slam side, went public suggesting that Campese should be dropped from the Australian side.

Australia 28 - South Africa 20

Campese recovered from his first Test performance to help Tim Horan score a try in the second Test. Australia had a scrum in their own territory and Campese was in position for a clearing kick. Campese instead opted to run and dummied past South African openside flanker Francois Pienaar. Campese's run brought play into South African territory. Campese then flicked a pass along the ground, described by Australian rugby commentator David Fordham as an 'ill-discipled pass', that Australian eightman Tim Gavin recovered. Two phases later Campese took a pass from Nick Farr-Jones in the first-receiver position, launched a high kick that his opposite winger Jacques Olivier wasn't able to field. The ball took a fortuitous bounce, and Australian inside centre Tim Horan was able to chase the ball down and fall upon it to score a try.

Australia 19 - South Africa 12 (Sydney - 21 August 1993)

In My Game Your Game David Campese is reported saying that, "When I think back over my Test career, it seems most of my best performances have been outside Australia, such as the World Cup of 1991 in Britain, the Wallaby Tour of the UK in 1988, and the Grand Slam trip of 1984. There have been some good moments at home, such as the third Test against South Africa at the Sydney Football Stadium in 1993..."

During the second half of the third Test Australia had formed a rolling maul in their own half. Nick Farr-Jones (playing his last Test for Australia) linked with Campese for the last time in their representative careers. Farr-Jones ran the blind-side and passed the ball to Campese, who ran past Springbok scrumhalf Robert du Preez. Campese ran along the sideline, bringing play into South African territory. Campese then gave an inside pass to Farr-Jones in support, who in turn passed the ball inside to Tim Gavin in support. Gavin ran the ball into contact. The ball came back to Farr-Jones from the ruck, and he handed it on to Phil Kearns, who gained metres for Australia with a strong run. As the next stage of play developed, Campese had re-positioned himself in the centres where he took a pass, made a tiny break, and lofted a pass over several South African players to Tim Horan in support, who went on to score a try.

Matt Burke in Matthew Burke: A Football Life recounts that, "We ended up winning the game 19-12 - and I was probably only one pass short of scoring a debut Test match try. David Campese put a pass over to Tim Horan, who carried it on and scored in the corner."

Campese received the man of the match award for his performance.

1993 Australia rugby union tour

In 1993 Campese toured with the Wallabies for their 1993 Australia rugby union tour, which included a Test against Canada and two Tests against France.

Australia 43 - Canada 16 (Calgary - 9 October 1993)

Campese scored three tries in Australia's first Test of their 1993 Australia rugby union tour against Canada.

Australia v Argentina (1995)

Prior to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Australia played a two-Test series against Argentina which was won 2-0.

Australia 53 v Argentina 7 (Sydney - 6 May 1995)

Rugby writer Peter Jenkins in Wallaby Gold: The History of Australian Test Rugby documented that, "The Pumas' tackling was also committed, if sometimes questionable, but they struggled to contain the pace and slickness of a Wallaby backline led by Lynagh, whose deputies included centre Jason Little and winger David Campese."

Australia 30 v Argentina 13 (Sydney - 6 May 1995)

Campese scored two tries in the Wallabies' second Test against the Pumas in 1995. Following this Test Campese would go scoreless for his next six Tests, until a Test against Canada 14 months later.

1995 Rugby World Cup

Campese only played in three Tests at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. England defeated Australia in the quarter-finals. Campese would later state in Campo: Still Entertaining that, "I know David Campese had an ordinary tournament."

Australia 18 – South Africa 27 (Cape Town – 25 May 1995)

Campese played in Australia's first pool match against South Africa in Cape Town. In Campo: Still Entertaining Campese reflected that, "I was not anywhere near my best and missed a crucial tackle on my opposite winger Pieter Hendriks, allowing him to score. We had been ahead 13-9 at the time, with Lynagh scoring the opening try of the tournament in the 32rd minute of the match. Five minutes later the Springboks had snatched the lead from us when Hendriks beat me on the outside, raised his fist in triumph, and scored in the left corner. We never led again."

Campese further wrote that, "In the World Cup match against South Africa, I kicked the ball three or four times when I could have run. Maybe I was worried my speed was going, and that was affecting my confidence, especially to counterattack."

Australia 27 – Canada 11 (Port Elizabeth – 21 May 1995)

Australia 22 – England 25 (Cape Town – 11 June 1995)

English revenge for the final defeat came in the next World Cup when they beat the Wallabies in a nail-biting quarter-final. After the match, Campo somehow found himself on the same bus as all the English and endured some ribbing.

1995 Bledisloe Cup

Following the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Campese was dropped from the Australian team for their first Bledisloe Cup Test match against New Zealand in Auckland. Following an injury to Australian fullback Matthew Burke in the first Bledisloe Cup Test of 1995 in Auckland, the Australian selectors picked Rod Kafer to take Burke's place in the Australian team. Kafer then suffered a broken leg during a training session. Campese was then recalled to a training session with the Wallabies, with the information that if Matthew Burke proved his fitness, he would not play in the second Bledisloe Cup Test. Burke recovered from his injury to play in the second Bledisloe Cup Test. However, another injury to Australian centre Daniel Herbert led to Campese's selection on the bench in the second Bledisloe Cup Test of 1995. In Campo: Still Entertaining Campese wrote that "for some reason, I was meant to play that weekend against the All Blacks."

2nd Bledisloe Cup Test: Australia 23 – New Zealand 34 (Sydney – 29 July 1995)

The second Bledisloe Cup Test of 1995 marked the first and only time in Campese's rugby career where he started a Test on the bench. Australian winger Damien Smith suffered an injury in the first half of the second Bledisloe Cup Test of 1995, allowing Campese to play his 92nd Test for Australia, coming off the bench as a substitute in the second half.

This Test marked the first time Campese would oppose All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu. Former Australian fullback Matthew Burke recalls in Matthew Burke: A Football Life that:

In Campo: Still Entertaining Campese reflects that, "As chance would have it, Jonah got the ball in the opening stages of the second half and ran straight at me… I think I shut my eyes, but I tackled him. Later in the half he pushed me aside to score a try, but I could at least claim to have cut him down once." Following the Test Campese and Lomu met in the changing rooms and exchanged their jerseys. Lomu gave Campese his number 11 jersey while Campese gave Lomu his number 16 jersey. Campese's 92nd Test marked the last Test Campese would play in the amateur era.

1996

In 1996 Bob Dwyer was replaced as coach of the Australian rugby union team by Greg Smith. In Campo: Still Entertaining Campese writes that, "It gave me some early hope of forcing my way back. I don’t know for sure that Bob had written me off as a Test player. But judging by those closing months of the 1995 season, it would not have been too promising for me, I suspect, had he held on to the Wallaby post."

Regarding his decision to continue playing Test level rugby Campese writes that, "In the end, my decision to play on was taken with one overriding goal in mind. I wanted to end my Test career on a high note. Not with an appearance off the bench in a Bledisloe Cup loss to the All Blacks." He further adds that, "the prospect of playing 100 Tests had enormous appeal too… But, to be perfectly honest, the initial aim was just to get back in the starting side." Campese was selected for the Australian team for the first eight Tests of their 1996 season, before being dropped following his 100th Test against Italy. He would play one more Test for Australia against Wales in the Wallabies final Test of the year.

Australia v Wales (1996)

Australia 56 - Wales 25 (Brisbane - 8 June 1996)

In Campo: Still Entertaining, Campese recalls the first Test against Wales by writing that:

Australia 74 - Canada 9 (Brisbane - 29 June 1996)

Campese scored his 64th and final international Test try in Australia's 74-9 defeat of Canada. It was Campese's first Test try in 14 months.

1996 Australian Tour to Europe

The 1996 Australia rugby union tour in Europe was Campese's final rugby tour before his retirement from international Test rugby. While the tour contained Tests against Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Campese only played against Italy and Wales. The Australian team was heavily criticised for their performances. However, the tour remains the only time Australia had won every match on a tour to Europe that included provincial matches.

Australia 40 – Italy 18 (23 October 1996)

Australia's first Test of the 1996 Tour to Europe against Italy marked David Campese's 100th international Test. He became the second person, after French centre Philippe Sella, to achieve the milestone. The Test took place two days after Campese's 34th birthday in Padova, where Campese had played rugby in Italy for three years from 1984 to 1986. The Test took place close to his father's birthplace, Vicenza. In Campo: Still Entertaining Campese recalls that, "Unfortunately, they were not treated to vintage performances, by myself or the rest of the Wallabies. The Italians got stuck into us and, in some respects, we were lucky to get away with a 40-18 scoreline."

Australia's Tim Horan was moved to the wing for the Test against Italy and scored a try. Campese then missed national selection for the next Test against Scotland, with coach Greg Smith opting to continue to play Tim Horan on the wing and play Joe Roff in Campese's place. This marked only the third time in Campese's 101-Test career that he was dropped from the Australian rugby team.

In a midweek match against Munster Campese had what he later described as "one of my better performances for quite some time, scoring two tries, setting up another and perhaps defending like I’d never defended before." However, Campese also did not achieve national selection for the Test against Ireland. Australian coach Greg Smith opted to return Tim Horan to the inside centre position and play Jason Little on the wing in Campese's place.

Australia 28 – Wales 19 (Cardiff – 1 December 1996)

Campese was recalled to the Australian side for their final Test of the 1996 European tour, his 101st Test and his final Test appearance playing for the Wallabies. Australian coach Greg Smith returned Jason Little to the outside centre position and situated Campese on the right wing while Joe Roff occupied the left wing. Australia led Wales 18-6 at halftime. In the second half Welsh outside centre Gareth Thomas scored a try after intercepting a pass from George Gregan. Following this Welsh flyhalf Jonathan Davies kicked two penalties to give Wales a 19-18 lead. Australia's Matt Burke landed a penalty to give Australia a 21-19 lead, before Australia scored a penalty try in the final moments of the Test to win 28-19.

Australia 39 – Barbarians 12 (Twickenham – 7 December 1996)

Campese played his last match for Australia against the Barbarians at Twickenham. Prior to the match Campese was offered the special privilege of playing for the Barbarians in his final match. However, Australian team management rejected the idea. Campese scored a try in his last game after taking a pass from Australian hooker Michael Foley and slipping under an attempted tackle from South African flyhalf Joel Stransky. Following the game, Campese completed a lap of honour and was afforded a standing ovation from crowd, to bring an end to his international career.

Throughout his career Campese was known for his forthright views. The English were a particular target for his vitriol as he lambasted them for their boring and unadventurous play, however he was not afraid to also speak out against Australians, for instance when some elected to play for their states rather than represent Australia in the Hong Kong Sevens.

In retirement, Campese remains a fierce critic of England, maintaining his criticism even after England were crowned world champions in 2003. However, he was a good enough sport to accept the merciless heckling from the English media in the aftermath of England's victory with good grace, and walked humiliatingly the length of Oxford Street wearing a sandwich board on which was the English flag overlaid with the words "I admit, the best team won!" to make good on a somewhat rash promise he'd made before the tournament.

In 2013, he published tweets urging that naturalised Australian cricketer Fawad Ahmed "go home" because he chose not to wear clothing with the logo of Victoria Bitter on account that it clashes with his Islamic faith.

In 1991 Campese released his first autobiography On a Wing and a Prayer with Peter Bills. The opening paragraph reads as follows:

In 2003 Campese released his second autobiography Campo: Still Entertaining.

The tribute book David Campese highlights the following events as being among Campese's career milestones.

Born 21 October 1962, Queanbeyan, NSW to Gianantonio and Joan Campese. Brother Mario (born 1959), sisters Lisa (1964) and Corrina (1965).

Campese family moves back to Montecchio Precalcino in northern Italy in 1966 for eighteen months and returns to Australia and settles again in Queanbeyan the following year.

Attends local public school and high school. Plays rugby league from the ages of eight to sixteen for the Queanbeyan Blues.

Wins the ACT-Monaro Schoolboys golf title in 1978.

First game of rugby union for the Queanbeyan Whites club in the ACT rugby competition in 1979 in fourth grade. Promoted to first grade in 1980.

Selected for the Australian Under 21 side against New Zealand, Sydney Cricket Ground, 1982, at the age of nineteen.

Selected on the 1982 Wallaby tour of New Zealand after ten established Australian players withdrew. Makes his Test debut for Australia at Lancaster Park in Christchurch on 14 August and scores one try.

Scores four tries in Australia's first official Test match v USA in July, 1983 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, equalling Greg Cornelsen's record for the most tries in a Test by an Australian.

Member of the 1984 Wallaby Tour to Great Britain that won rugby's 'grand slam,' the first Australian side to defeat all four home sides, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, on a tour.

Plays for Italian club Petrarca in the northern city of Padua from 1984–88 during the northern winter. Transfers to the Amatori club in Milan in 1988, owned by Italian media magnate and future Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and plays with them until 1993.

Member of the 1986 side that beat the All Blacks 2-1 in New Zealand, only the fourth international and the second Australian team to win a Test series in New Zealand.

1987 – joins Sydney club Randwick from the Queanbeyan Whites.

Receives a standing ovation from the crowd and applause from his teammates after scoring a zig-zagging try for Australia against the Barbarians at Cardiff Arms Park in 1988. Campese regards this as his best try in international rugby.

July 1989 – a misguided pass behind the line directed at Greg Martin allows Ieuan Evans to score and the British Lions to win the series, the low point of his career on the field.

Plays his fiftieth Test match for Australia v France in Sydney, June, 1990.

July 1990 – misses selection from the Australian team to play France following his late return from Italy.

October/November 1991 – acclaimed the Player of the 1991 World Cup, scoring six tries in as many matches for the victorious Wallabies. The second pool match against Western Samoa is Campese's sixtieth Test, breaking the record for the most number of Test appearances for Australia. The final against England at Twickenham is Campese's 100th international match for Australia.

August 1992 – scores his fiftieth Test try in Cape Town, in the first Test match between Australia and South Africa since 1971.

September 1992 – opens Campo's Sports and Leisure store at St Ives shopping centre in Sydney with business partner Julie McGraw.

Member of Australia's third World Cup squad in South Africa. Defending champions Australia bow out in the quarter-finals against England.

Omitted from the side to play the first Test v New Zealand in Auckland in the 1995 Bledisloe Cup series. He is a late selection onto the bench in the second Test in Sydney, then runs on as a placement to notch up his ninety-second Test cap.

June 1996 – secnd Test v Wales in Sydney is Campese's ninety-fourth – second on the all-time list of Test appearances for all nations.

Campese retied in 1996 second on the all-time list of Test appearances for all nations with 101 Tests following a Test against Wales in Cardiff.

David Campese has frequently been cited by several rugby pundits as one of the greatest rugby union players of all time.

In 2002, rugby commentator Bill McLaren named David Campese on the wing in his greatest ever world XV, citing him as his favourite player. He further nominated Campese as the greatest rugby player he ever saw. "Every time David Campese got the ball people sat up and took notice, he took a risk and I love that," said McLaren. "He was so adventurous. Sometimes it didn't work, but he was always willing to try. Andy Irvine was similar, but Campese was the one. He carried the commentary along with the play."

Following Australia's victory over New Zealand in the 1991 World Cup semi-final, former Irish flyhalf Tony Ward said of Campese that, "He is the Maradona, the Pelé of international rugby all rolled into one." He further added that, "You can't put a value on his importance to our game. He's a breath of fresh air and I think perhaps the greatest player of all time."

In his first autobiography The Winning Way former Australian coach Bob Dwyer hailed Campese as being one of the five most accomplished Australian rugby players he has ever seen. Dwyer wrote that, "I would rate Campese first for pure individual brilliance." Dwyer further rated Campese as "the best broken-field runner I have seen." In his second autobiography Full Time: A Coach's Memoir Dwyer wrote that, "For this biased judge, Campo will always be the prince of wingers."

In 1989 David Campese was selected in the Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook "Team of the Decade" at left-wing. The team was chosen by a panel consisting of former rugby players Gareth Edwards, Jean-Pierre Rives, Ian Robertson, and David Kirk. The Team of the Decade contained: 15. Serge Blanco (France); 14. John Kirwan (New Zealand); 13. Danie Gerber (South Africa); 12. Philippe Sella (France); 11. David Campese (Australia); 10. Hugo Porta (Argentina); 9. Dave Loveridge (New Zealand); 8. Morne du Plessis (South Africa); 7. Graham Mourie (c) (New Zealand); 6. Michael Jones (New Zealand); 5. Andy Haden (New Zealand); 4. Steve Cutler (Australia); 3. Graham Price (Wales); 2. Colin Deans (Scotland); 1. Robert Paparemborde (France). The panel agreed that one selection was straightforward, that of David Campese on the left wing.

In 2007 former English rugby captain Will Carling rated David Campese as the third best rugby player of all time. He stated that, "He was well ahead of his time. His anticipation and vision was way ahead of what everyone else was attempting, and 99 per cent of it came off. He took running lines no one else could fathom and made passes no one could see were on. He was an extraordinary talent – the best winger."

Former English flanker Mike Teague has described Campese as "the best player I've ever seen." Former Welsh winger, Ieuan Evans, who marked Campese during the 1989 British Lions tour to Australia, has said of Campese that, "We played against each other five times on that tour and, to me, he was a rugby genius. The best player I had ever played against - a truly wonderful, wonderful player."

In 2013 Australian sports magazine Inside Rugby named its four Australian Invincibles – a rugby union equivalent of rugby league's Immortals. David Campese was named alongside Col Windon, Ken Catchpole, and Mark Ella as the first Invincibles of Australian rugby.

Peter Meares and Maxwell Howell wrote of Campese's fame that, "...his fame surpassed the normal boundaries of sport – Australian rower Nick Green, a Victorian, summed up the Oarsome Foursome's victory in the Barcelona Olympics, like this: 'So easy, Campese.'"

- Terry Smith, Path to Victory (1987), p 134.

– Bob Dwyer, The Winning Way (1992), p 68, p 70.

– Bob Dwyer, The Winning Way (1992), p 70.

- Michael O'Connor, The best of both worlds: The Michael O'Connor story (1992), p 56.

- Peter FitzSimons, 'The World Cup', Nick Farr-Jones: The Authorised Biography (1993), 237.

– Alan Jones, "The Bradman of Rugby Union", David Campese (1996), p 33.

– Mark Ella, 'A Kindred Spirit', Running Rugby (1995), p 37.

– Rod MacQueen, One Step Ahead (2001), pp 125–6.

– Bob Dwyer, Full Time: A Coach’s Memoir (2004), pp 152.

– Bob Dwyer, Full Time: A Coach’s Memoir (2004), pp 154–5.

– Bob Dwyer, Full Time: A Coach’s Memoir (2004), pp 157–8.

– Matthew Burke, Matthew Burke: A rugby life (2005), p 134.

– Mark Ella, Ella: The Definitive Biography (2007), p 181-2.

– Michael Lynagh, Blindsided: A rugby great confronts his greatest challenge (2015), p 258.

Campese was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1997. In 1999 Australia Post celebrated the centenary of Australian federation emitting 250 collectible stamps depicting the champ and autographed by the same Campese.

He Received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000, a Centenary Medal in 2001, and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2002. In 2007 Campese was honoured in the third set of inductees into the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2013.