Between late 1957 and March 1958 the Australia national rugby union team – the Wallabies – conducted a world tour encompassing Britain, Ireland, France and Canada on which they played five Tests and thirty-one minor tour matches. The Wallabies won 17, lost 16 and drew three of their games in total. They lost all five Tests of the tour.

The squad's leadership Versatile back Dick Tooth had made 10 Test appearances for Australia before the tour and had captained the Wallabies well in two 1957 Tests against the All Blacks. Howell expresses a view that it was inexplicable that Tooth was not selected for the tour and partially blames this as cause of the disappointing tour result.Howell p. 154 However Howell writes that Bob Davidson possessed outstanding qualities to make him a natural touring captain. He was a born leader of men, was immensely popular, he met people well, was highly intelligent and spoke well in public. He played in 32 of the 41 tour games and did everything in his power to make the tour a success.Howell p. 158

Veteran second-rower Alan Cameron had captained the Wallabies in 18 matches in 1955 and 1956 but was no longer supreme in his position nor guaranteed of Test selection. However he made a superb contribution to the tour playing in 22 matches including one Test and captained the side in seven mid-week matchesHowell p. 151

As per tradition, Assistant Manager Dave Cowper assumed the coaching duties. Howell writes that in spite of the mounting losses, Cowper "ever the gentleman, never criticised the players, even when he had every right to....he personified the true amateur, playing always to the rules with a strict code of ethics"Howell p. 104 Squad member Nicholas Shehadie was less complimentary in his published recollections suggesting Cowper had limited imagination as a coach with "our training devoid of variety which made it very tedious."

Tour details The squad was on tour for eight months in total and travelled to England by ship. Shehadie reports that the team issue consisted of " two blazers, a pair of grey slacks, four green ties with a hand-painted wallaby on each, a heavy pullover and a track suit. In addition, each player received one pair of boots – with another pair to be issued in England – sandshoes for training on the ship, a heavy woollen scarf and tablets to counteract sea-sickness, Vitamin C tablets to counteract colds in Britain and a packet of tranquiliser tablets to be used at the player's own discretion"''' He recalls that the squad's pocket money was 10s a day, up from 5s a decade before.

Matches of the TourScores and results list Australia's points tally first.DateOpponentLocationResultScore16 November Southern Counties Hove Won 29–5210 November Oxford University RFC Iffley Road, Oxford Lost 6–12313 November Cambridge University R.U.F.C. Grange Road, Cambridge Lost 3–13416 November London CountiesLondon Counties programTwickenhamDraw9–9520 November Pontypool & Cross KeysPontypool Park, PontypoolWon14–6623 November NewportNewport programRodney Parade, NewportLost0–11727 November LeinsterLeinster programLansdowne Road, DublinWon10–8830 November UlsterstatisticsRavenhill, BelfastWon9–094 December Glasgow - EdinburghGlasgow/Edinburgh programOld Anniesland, GlasgowWon9–3107 December South of ScotlandSth of Scotland programMansfield Park, HawickWon12–61110 December LlanelliStradey Park, LlanelliWon9–51214 December CardiffCardiff Arms Park, CardiffLost11–141318 December Western CountiesBristolLost8–91421 December Leicestershire & East MidlandsWelford Road LeicesterWon18–31526 December Combined ServicesCombined Services programTwickenhamWon16–111728 December Aberavon & NeathAberavon programTalbot Athletic Ground, Port TalbotWon5–3184 January WalesCardiff Arms ParkLost3–9198 January Abertillery & Ebbw ValeAbertillery program The Park, AbertilleryLost5–62011 January SwanseaSt Helen's Ground, SwanseaWon12–62118 JanuaryLansdowne RoadLost6–92221 January MunsterThomond Park, LimerickDraw3–32325 January South West CountiesSth West Counties programHome Park, PlymouthDrew3–32428 January South East CountiesPortsmouthWon6–0251 February EnglandTwickenham StadiumLost6–9265 February North Eastern CountiesNth East counties programCounty Ground, GosforthWon10–0278 February North Western CountiesCounty Ground, Blundellsandslost3–62811 February North of ScotlandAberdeenWon6–32915 February ScotlandMurrayfield StadiumLost8–123019 February Midland CountiesMidland Counties programHighfield Road, CoventryLost3–83122 FebruaryBarbariansBarbarians programCardiff Arms Park, CardiffLost6–11329 March FranceStade de ColombesLost0–193315 March British ColumbiaVancouverLost3–153420 March University of British ColumbiaVancouverWon31–6

Test matches

Wales

AUSTRALIA: Terry Curley, Roderick Phelps, Kenneth Donald, Jim Lenehan, Jack Potts, Arthur Summons, Des Connor, Nicholas Shehadie, Norman Hughes, Peter Fenwicke, Tony Miller, Dave Emanuel, John Thornett, James Brown, Robert Davidson (captain)

WALES: Terry Davies, John Collins, Gordon Wells, Cyril Davies, Ray Williams, Carwyn James, Wynne Evans, Don Devereux, Bryn Meredith, Ray Prosser, Rhys Williams, Roddy Evans, Robin Davies, Clem Thomas (captain), John Faull

Ireland

Shehadie writes in his memoirs that his response to Noel Murphy continually blocking his vision in the scrum was to deal him a punch in an ensuing scrum. He recalls that the Lansdowne Rd crowd booed the Australian team and that press afterwards singled out Shehadie for his brutal play. He suggests that Dave Cowper then determined to make an example of him and true to his word did not select him in another Test of the tour.Shehadie pp. 95–102 It was therefore Shehadie's last Test match, as it would also be for Australia's other forward veteran Alan Cameron.

AUSTRALIA: Terry Curley, Kenneth Donald, Saxon White, Jack Potts, Roderick Phelps, Arthur Summons, Des Connor, Nicholas Shehadie, James Brown, Robert Davidson (captain), Alan Cameron, Dave Emanuel, John Thornett Norman Hughes, Peter Fenwicke

IRELAND: Paddy Berkery, Tony O'Reilly, Noel Henderson (c), Dave Hewitt, Cecil Pedlow, Jackie Kyle, Andy Mulligan, Patrick O'Donoghue, Ronnie Dawson, Gordon Wood, James Stevenson, Bill Mulcahy, James Donaldson, Noel Murphy, James Kavanagh, Alan Cameron

England

This was the day Twickenham jeered a sound at the august ground. But when Jim Lenehan tackled Phil Horrocks-Taylor late and so heavily that he was taken off the field, the crowd were annoyed. Every time Lenehan touched the ball, the crowd booed.

The scores were 3–0 at half time, but soon Malcolm Phillips scored a great try and then Terry Curley gave the Wallabies the lead with a drop goal. When injury time came the score was 6-all. Then came the only try of the match by brilliant Peter Jackson. Jackson out on the wing, got a pass on the Wallaby 25. He was not the fastest of wings – but he was deceptive and knew sidestep, swerve and hand-off, and used them as deadly weapons. He swerved away from Rod Phelps and handed him off. He moved to cut in, plonking Terry Curley onto the wrong foot as he beat him on the outside. Phelps was gaining, the line was approaching, Phelps was faster and Jackson dived with Phelps on his back. retrieved 17 September 2009.

It was England's first post-war Test victory over one of the three Southern powers.

AUSTRALIA: Terry Curley, Rod Phelps, Ken Donald, Jim Lenehan, Saxon White, Arthur Summons, Des Connor, Kevin Ryan, Mac Hughes, Peter Fenwicke, Tony Miller, Dave Emanuel, Geoffrey Vaughan, James Brown, Robert Davidson (captain)

ENGLAND: Jim Hetherington, Peter Jackson, Malcolm Phillips, Jeff Butterfield, Peter Thompson, Phil Horrocks-Taylor, Dickie Jeeps, Alan Ashcroft, Ronald Syrett, Peter Robbins, David Marques, John Currie, Ron Jacobs, Eric Evans (captain), George Hastings

Scotland

AUSTRALIA: Terry Curley, Kenneth Donald, Jim Lenehan, Saxon White, Roderick Phelps, Arthur Summons, Des Connor, Geoffrey Vaughan, James Brown, Robert Davidson (captain), Tony Miller, Dave Emanuel, Eddie Purkiss, John Thornett, Norman Hughes

SCOTLAND: Robin Chisholm, Arthur Smith (captain), George Stevenson, James Docherty, Thomas Weatherstone, Gordon Waddell, Tremayne Rodd, Hugh McLeod, Norman Bruce, Tom Elliot, Malcolm Swan, Hamish Kemp, Ken Smith, Adam Robson, Jim Greenwood

France

AUSTRALIA: Terry Curley, Alan Morton, Jim Lenehan, Roderick Phelps, Otto Fox, Ron Harvey, Des Connor, Geoffrey Vaughan, James Brown, Robert Davidson (captain), Tony Miller, Dave Emanuel, Ken Yanz, John Thornett, Norman Hughes

FRANCE: Michel Vannier, Henri Rancoule, Maurice Prat, Roger Martine, , Antoine Labazuy, Pierre Lacroix, Aldo Quaglio, Robert Vigier, Alfred Roques, Lucien Mias, Michel Celaya (captain), Michel Crauste, Henri Domec, Jean Barthe

Touring party

Manager: Terry McLenaughan Assistant manager (Coach): Dave Cowper Captain: Bob Davidson Vice-captain: Alan Cameron

Squad Name Tests Club Career caps Tour Apps Position Pts Terry Curley 5 Newcastle Wanderers 34 Full back 3 Ken Donald 4 Queensland University9 Three-quarter33 Alan Morton 1Randwick11 Three-quarter Rod Phelps 5 Northern Suburbs Three-quarter 3 Saxon White 3 Sydney University Three-quarter Jack Potts 2 Sydney University Three-quarter 0 Jim Lenehan 4 Wagga Wagga 24 32Howell Three-quarter 114 Otto Fox 1 St George 1 16 Three-quarter Graham Bailey 0 17 Three-quarter Ron Harvey 1 Newcastle Waratahs Half-back Arthur Summons 4 Gordon RFC 10 Half-back Des Connor 5 Brisbane Brothers 27 27 Half-back Don Logan 1 Gordon RFC 1 Half-back Bob Davidson (c) 5 Gordon RFC 13 32 Forward Kevin Ryan 1 Brisbane Brothers 5 Forward 0 Alan Cameron 1 St George RUFC 20 22 Forward John Thornett 4 Sydney University 37 18 Forward Dave Emanuel 5Eastern Suburbs Forward 0 Norman Hughes 5Sydney University14 Forward 0 Geoffrey Vaughan 3 Melbourne University Rugby Union 6 Forward Peter Fenwicke 2 Walcha 6 19 Forward Ron Meadows 0 Newcastle Wanderers Forward Jim Brown 5Randwick924 Forward Nicholas Shehadie 2 Randwick 30 24 Forward Tony Miller 4 Manly RUFC 41 Forward Ken Yanz 1 Gordon RFC 1 Forward Edwin Purkiss 1 Newcastle Wanderers 3 Forward Bill Gunther 0 Molong 15 ForwardStuart Scotts Eastern Suburbs ForwardJim Phipps 117Three-quarter

The team's most experienced centre three quarter Jim Phipps ( 11 caps prior to tour) played 7 of the first 9 games but broke his leg against Glasgow and Edinburgh and did not play again on tour.

The Wallabies played a match in Perth on the way to England during which lock Stuart Scotts broke a wrist and feared he would be left at home. Management decided the six weeks boat trip would give him sufficient time to recover, a decision vindicated by his playing several mid- week games during the tour.

Sources

Footnotes

Bibliography Howell, Max (2005) Born to Lead – Wallaby Test Captains, Celebrity Books, Auckland NZ Shehadie, Nicholas (2003) A Life Worth Living'', Simon & Schuster Australia

Online references