‘It was a great game of rugby ... I was just very lucky to be a part of it’
ASURVEY of people’s favourite Scott Quinnell memories would probably find landslide backing for his famed, rampaging try against France in 1994.
Others might opt for the juggling that preceded his pass to Scott Gibbs before the latter’s Wembley score against England.
Those from west Wales might be partial to recollecting his mighty tonesetting drive into Martin Johnson as Llanelli tamed Leicester in the Heineken Cup in 2002.
One or two might have long enough memories to remember him charging through the touring Japan Youth’s defence from a tapped penalty, with the Japanese players seemingly waiting for one of their team-mates to have a go at stopping the giant Welsh No.8 – no-one did.
There were also four tries for Wales Youth against England Colts in 1991, a match that saw one watching RFU committeeman describe Quinnell as a “colossus”.
But what of the man himself?
“I was asked the other day what’s my fondest memory in rugby,” he says.
“I go back to Llanelli U11s. I can remember playing for them for two or three years. It was at Stradey and those boys are my best friends now. They were great times and what rugby’s all about – creating friendships and bonds that last a lifetime.
“I always say you should never underestimate how lucky you are to put a pair of boots on. It doesn’t matter if you’re scoring against France in 1994 or playing Bonymaen away on a Sunday morning as a nine-year-old. It’s an absolute privilege.”
Another of Quinnell’s highlights is the startlingly-successful Wales Schools 1990 tour of New Zealand of which he was an integral part.
“The boys on that trip had a reunion last year,” he says.
“It was fantastic seeing everyone again and going over the tour and reflecting on winning six out of six in New Zealand, including a win over junior All Blacks.
“That’s a great memory.”
THAT SCORE
But let’s home in on his Five Nations score against France in 1994.
The match is being shown on S4C tonight on Dyddiau Da – 5 a 6 Gwlad: Cymru v Ffrainc 1994 (9pm), with Quinnell appearing alongside three of his team-mates that day, Emyr Lewis, John Davies and Robert Jones.
It was a superb team performance, but, to most eyes, the encounter was all about Quinnell, with his score an unforgettable affair that saw him break from a line-out 45 metres out, bulldoze through Fabien Galthie’s attempted tackle then charge down the right touchdown, brushing off Philippe Saint-Andre and Alain Penaud before crashing over at the flag.
Later in his career, he was to be called a red-shirted mountain of muscle on the move.
It’s a description that could have been used to describe him as he powered through the French that day 26 years ago.
What does he recall of that try of tries?
“When I tell the story, the run is always more than 45 metres,” he laughs.“I just reacted.
“I managed to get past Galthie, then I could see Saint-Andre and I looked inside to Emyr Lewis. If there weren’t French players between me and Emyr I would probably have passed the ball, though nobody ever believes that.
“I managed to switch the ball into my right hand and get over in the corner.
“It’s funny, though: because I’ve seen the score on social media and TV so often over the years, I almost know it as outer-body experience rather than an inner-body experience.
“But it was a good first score in international rugby, I guess.”
As understatements go, that’s a good one, too.
France had a strong side that day in Cardiff, with two tower-block locks in Olivier Merle and Olivier Roumat, a ruthless back-row in Philippe Benetton, Abdel Benazzi and Marc Cecillon, and authentic legends behind the scrum in Philippe Sella and Emile Ntamack.
But Wales’ young buffalo destroyed their defence with a break that saw him announce his arrival on the Test stage. Did he realise he’d done something special?
“In the moment you probably just try to enjoy it,” he says.
“I’d scored tries from quite far out for Llanelli, if not as far out as that one. “You just get on with the game. “What people tend to forget is that the French really did come back at us.
“It was a great game of rugby, one of those where 99 percent of the ball seemed to bounce my way and I was just very lucky to be a part of it.”
‘WINNING THE LOTTERY’
He continues: “What really won it for us was our front five.
“They were magnificent, able to pressure the French front five, who were massive, with the likes of Roumat, Merle. We won one scrum against the head. I’ve never forget that, because against the French that’s like winning the lottery.
“Gareth Llewellyn, who was captain that day, John Davies, Garin Jenkins, Phil Davies and Ricky Evans gave us a wonderful platform.
“Garin was strong. He pulled the front row together, with John Davies and Ricky Evans also outstanding.
“I remember we were having breakfast before one game and I said to Garin: ‘Gar, aren’t you having breakfast?’
“He replied: ‘A lion doesn’t hunt on a full stomach.’
“I thought: ‘Fair play.’ I finished off my beans and toast and off we went to play the game!’
“He was, and is, a great guy.
“I bump into him now and again and when you look into his eyes you think he’d be happy to be in the middle of the Wales front row today.”