Justin Harrison had the reputation as a no-nonsense, abrasive character during his playing days. But the former Wallaby second row, famously nicknamed The Plank by Austin Healey, has been moved to tears by a magical moment which has been captured on film.
After he was part of the Australian team which lost to England on home soil in the 2003 World Cup final, Harrison flung his runners-up medal into Sydney’s Darling Harbour in a fit of rage. He has regretted his actions ever since. But now, almost 20 years on, at last he has a medal to show his kids.
The 34-cap lock returned to the scene of his errant act a few days ago in the belief he was there to preview the deciding Test between Australia and England for TV. But it wasn’t long before the host, his former teammate Morgan Turinui, raised the issue of what happened after the 2003 final in Sydney.
