Walker relives his glory days
by jbuchan
Jay Buchan Sports Writer ay has worked at the QT for five years covering most sports in Ipswich, from mountain running to gliding. His passion for writing about sport stems from his inability to come close to mastering any as a competitor, though he once captained Chris Latham in colts. Jay's sporting heroes include Mark Ella, Steven Bradbury and Jarred Lacey.
3rd Jul 2013 6:00 AM
ULTIMATE ACHIEVEMENT: Andrew Walker beats the tackle of British Lions halfback Rob Howley in the second Test of the 2001 series in Melbourne. Sean Garnsworthy
BEING part of the greatest Wallabies side in history has its privileges.
Twelve years after he last represented Australia, Andrew Walker is enjoying a bit of long-overdue recognition for what he achieved in rugby union.
Walker was flown to Canberra last week for an ACT Brumbies reunion, which coincided with the Lions game against the 2013 Brumbies.
He is being flown to Sydney tomorrow for a Classic Wallabies match, followed by the third Lions Test on Saturday.
The North Ipswich resident was a member of the Wallabies squad that became the first Australian team to beat the Lions in a series in 2001.
"The Brumbies reunion was fantastic," Walker said.
"It was just good to catch up with blokes like Greegs (George Greegan), Roffy (Joe Roff), Owen, (Finnegan) and Ben Darwin.
"It was like that song of the Boss (Bruce Springsteen), Glory Days."
Walker managed to score a try and kick some crucial goals for the Wallabies while Roff was arguably man-of-the series.
They were on opposite wings for the Wallabies against he Lions, as well as the Brumbies team that won the 2001 Super 12 competition.
So Roff enjoyed telling stories of Walker's running mouth when they played together.
"Roffy was telling stories about how I would commentate the try before we'd scored it," the Fassifern Bombers skipper and five-eighth said.
"I'd run through how we were going to score it and next minute we'd score it."
Watching the Brumbies beat the Lions was the highlight of the evening.
"It was a good night," Walker said. "Very special.
"Twelve years ago the Brumbies should have beaten them."
The Brumbies of 2001, without their Test players, led in the final minutes before conceding the match winner to the Lions.
The Brumbies this year ground out their win, as they have regularly done in the Super 15, based on lots of kicking and few errors.
It is a far cry from the electrifying brand of rugby the Brumbies of Walker's era used to play.
"Back when we played we had 10 Wallabies in there," Walker said.
For the Classic Wallabies match at North Sydney Oval Walker will be joined by the likes of Garrick Morgan, Jeremy Paul and Bill Young.
At an earlier Classic Wallabies game at Ballymore last week former Wallabies fullback Greg Martin broke two ribs and Walker is expecting it to be a physical match, despite the old bones running around.
"I've been told that because it's the last game it's going to be full-on. I think they're picking blokes who are a little bit younger.
"They're here to win it."
Walker should have an advantage over many as one of the few still playing.
He showed how valuable he could be when he slotted the match-winning field goal for Fassifern against Swifts on Saturday.
"I might wake up the next day less sore than some," he said.
"It will be good to get out and have a run."
Walker will hope he's not too sore given he will fly back on Sunday morning to join his Fassifern teammates for their game against Norths at Harrisville.
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