Consign my Ashes try to history – Davies’ England challenge

Jonathan Davies has a message for England. He claims, “I’d like to see another try at Wembley so they don’t have to show mine,” adding: “I’d love to see.”

It is a big challenge for Shaun Wane’s side as they get ready to face Australia in London on Saturday, in the first rugby league Ashes Test since 2003.

Because of the stunning 50-metre burst for the corner that dual code rugby legend Davies scored this week, which was one of the classics, in a memorable Ashes victory. Great Britain, playing with 12 men for almost an hour, beat the world champions at Wembley.

That score, on a wet October 1994 afternoon, marked a pivotal moment for the scorer, the sport, and even the BBC commentator.

The triumph it inspired is still heralded now. It might provide guidance for Wane’s class of 2025. So how do you compete with the world’s best?

According to Davies, “you have to be patient.” “Don’t be chasing it. Avoid pushing passes. Make sure you have a good kicking game. and continue to turn Australians. And then just hang on in there.

Make the most of your opportunities, not the fight, really, and then.

There are several parallels between 1994 and 2025. The Kangaroos then become the favorites and holders of the World Cup. The first Test is at Wembley. Additionally, a head coach’s departure for an Australian club position has overshadowed the development.

This time around, Australia lost their boss. In June, Mal Meninga, the team’s captain from 1994, resigned to the new NRL team, the Perth Bears. Kevin Walters – a member of the ‘ 94 touring party, though he didn’t play in the Tests – has stepped in.

“Yes, I don’t think that’s an issue for Australia,” says legendary winger Martin Offiah, who shared a 1994 Great Britain team-mate with Davies.

” They’ve got Gorden Tallis in as their assistant, their cultural guide, who brings them all together. There are probably 100 people they could coach Australia and still be quite confident with the quality they have on a global level.

Wind the clock back 31 years and it was Great Britain in the midst of a shake-up.

Mal Reilly left his seven-year reign and joined the Newcastle Knights just two months before the first Test.

His replacement was a rugby superstar – but a coaching novice. Three-time Man of Steel champion Ellery Hanley had won almost every club game championship and captained Great Britain in the 1988 and 1990 Ashes series.

He had retired from international rugby, though was still playing for Leeds, where he was also assistant coach. He had never been a head coach, despite being only 33.

For those used to playing alongside him, the idea took getting used to.

Offiah claims, “That was a little surreal.

” Ellery was a good pal of mine, I’d toured with him for the first time in ‘ 88.

He was, however, the consummate professional, and he quickly transitioned to coaching because he had also been a leader on the pitch.

Hanley immediately made a significant call – dropping out-of-form captain Garry Schofield, his Leeds team-mate, from the matchday squad for the first Test. And so, on Saturday, October 22, 1994, Wigan scrum-half Shaun Edwards took the place.

Australia’s team was packed with quality: Meninga and Steve Renouf in the centres, Andrew Ettingshausen on the wing, Laurie Daley at stand-off, Alfie Langer at scrum-half, Brad Fittler at loose forward, plus more.

However, there were many talented people in Britain, including Davies, Offiah, Jason Robinson, Denis Betts, Andy Farrell, and others. They fancied their chances.

But their work became even more difficult in the 26th minute. A swift passing move gave Bradley Clyde space to run. The Australian second row was poleaxed as Edwards crossed and extended his right arm.

“He’s got to go”, shouted former Kangaroos scrum-half Peter Sterling, summarising for Australia’s Channel Nine. Graham Annesley, a feree, concurred. A red card for the captain.

After returning 10 minutes later and trying to continue, Clyde was forced to take over under the blood bin rule, which allowed a temporary substitute for a hurt player.

But he collapsed in the tunnel at half-time and had to be taken to hospital for a precautionary brain scan. He was thankfully okay.

Davies says: “I didn’t realise it on the day, but if you watch it on the video, when Shaun Edwards hits him, I think I’m behind, and you can see my face. And I’m thinking, “Oof. This is not nice. ‘

“That’s it, really, really. Shaun was absolutely distraught. However, it was a clear send-off even at the time.

“Butterfly” to Davies! Davies! He has some room, too! He’s going for the corner! He has his head retracted! And the Welshman… IS IN! for the incredible try just around the corner!

It began in the center of Great Britain. Bobbie Goulding broke from a scrum and set Offiah away, but he was tackled by Australia’s speedy full-back Brett Mullins. With a short time remaining, Alan Hunte, Goulding, and Phil Clarke worked possession of Betts, who fed Davies on the halfway line.

” I’d noticed that Mullins had got caught up in a little tussle with Alan Hunte at the play-the-ball, “Davies recalls.

I just threw a dummy as the ball came out, and all of a sudden I was in space as a result of some good wide passing. And it was like slow motion then.

“I hit open space as soon as I hit the gap.” And the noise just hits you. Because it’s like playing on a field as a kid, it hits you, but it doesn’t have an impact on you.

” And Brett Mullins was coming over and I knew that if I just checked him a little bit, leaned in with my head, and then accelerated off my left foot, that I’d have a good chance of beating him as he was out of position because of that little tussle he’d had.

I was certain that I had done him “ten yards out.”

Wembley’s best-ever try? There are some amiable disagreements there. Six months earlier, Offiah had scored an astonishing length-of-the-field try, finished in the same corner of the stadium, for Wigan against Leeds in the Challenge Cup final.

According to Davies, “I started with Brett Mullins and then moved on to Brad Fittler and Steve Renouf.” “Martin Offiah always says he scored the best try at Wembley, and I’m going: ‘ Hang on, who did you beat, mate? Who were you defeated?

Offiah recalls: “I always joke to Jiffy that he scored the second-best try ever at Wembley. And he consistently asserts that his opposition was opposed to better. But yeah, it was an incredible score. That’s the moment that Jiffy will be remembered for, in my opinion.

Viewed in 2025, the try has a touch of poignancy. The BBC television commentator who so poignantly described it passed away in July.

On the night of his death, the BBC One late news ran a short tribute. An archive clip titled Davies “try, with French’s words.

Remarkably, 12-man Great Britain held a 6-0 lead at half-time. They now had to defend it.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Fittler made a break to within 25 metres of the Great Britain line, with Langer in support and only Davies to beat. Now, surely, the Kangaroos would win.

Davies had to decide fast: Go to tackle the man with the ball and leave Langer free? Or choose Langer instead of Fittler and gamble on Fittler’s passing?

He went to tackle Langer. It was the right decision, saving a few attempts.

“Davies is having a 10 out of 10 here”, said Channel Nine commentator Ray Warren.

However, it was already three minutes before the full-back’s afternoon was over. In the aftermath of more extraordinary defending – Gary Connolly holding up Fittler virtually over the line – Davies helped scramble the ball clear, but suffered a dislocated shoulder as team-mate Barrie McDermott fell on him.

Britain still held on to the lead, but Renouf’s goal with eight minutes left gave the game. Test debutant David Furner missed the conversion from out wide, to the roars of the Wembley crowd, and the hosts saw the game out, with Goulding adding a late penalty to complete an 8-4 win.

However, Davies’ injury had consequences. He missed the remaining two Tests at Old Trafford and Elland Road, which Australia won to clinch the series.

In the months following that Ashes series, Hanley moved on to Australia. Davies returned to rugby union. What might have been left in the 1994 squad’s mind?

As it is, Australia remain unbeaten in an Ashes series since 1970. Since 1959, there hasn’t been a loss for them in England.

There have been memorable individual British victories – in Sydney in 1988, at Wembley in 1990 and 1994, and in Melbourne in 1992 – and a few close calls: Australia had to come from behind to win all three Tests in 2003. However, putting it all together over the course of a series has proved more difficult.

“That’s the thing that I’ll take to the grave, that I didn’t win an Ashes series”, Offiah says.

After a 22-year gap, the Ashes return – albeit with a difference, as Australia will be facing England.

It has been up for debate whether Great Britain should be the subject of the debate, as it has been since the Ashes’ apparition in 1908, as in every previous series.

“Being the traditionalist, I would still like it to be Great Britain”, Offiah says. “It would probably be a similar team anyway,” he said, “but I believe the British brand, combined with our successes and history, would probably give us that extra little bit.”

The key to building that respect will be a competitive series.

According to Davis, “Australia will start as favorites.” I think they have to because of the past history of the results. They compete against other teams in the NRL in intensity. But it’s the first one, they could be caught cold a little bit.

“I believe there might be a lot of potential at Wembley on the day.” That’s the one that’s going to set the tone for the rest of the series”.

Someone will create a moment to remember, which is the hope for England.

Offiah adds: “There are a lot of players who want to state their name on the international stage.