In 1984 at Twickenham, Australia sprang a trick play on England nicknamed “Leaguie” which delivered the first try of the Wallabies’ grand slam sweep of the home nations. Flyhalf Mark Ella took a pass from halfback Nick Farr-Jones, looped centre Michael Lynagh, then threw a sublime dummy to ghost behind the defensive line and score.
Forty years on, a new Australian “Leaguie” will be weaponised on a grand slam quest, with confirmation the Wallabies’ expensive new toy, Joseph Sua’ali’i – wooed back to rugby from the NRL on a record three-year deal worth AU$5m – has been fast-tracked into a gold jersey for the Spring Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
