Simon Poidevin

Birth name	Simon Paul Poidevin
Date of birth	(1958-10-31) 31 October 1958 (age 65)
Place of birth	Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
University	University of NSW
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1980–1991 Australia 59 (25)

Simon Paul Poidevin (born 31 October 1958) is a former Australian rugby union player. Poidevin made his Test debut for Australia against Fiji during the 1980 tour of Fiji.^[1] He was a member of the Wallabies side that defeated New Zealand 2–1 in the 1980 Bledisloe Cup series.^[2] He toured with the Eighth Wallabies for the 1984 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland that won rugby union's "grand slam", the first Australian side to defeat all four home nations, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, on a tour.^[3] He debuted as captain of the Wallabies in a two-Test series against Argentina in 1986, substituting for the absent Andrew Slack.^[4] He was a member of the Wallabies on the 1986 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand that beat the All Blacks, one of six international teams and second Australian team to win a Test series in New Zealand.^[5] During the 1987 Rugby World Cup, he overtook Peter Johnson as Australia's most capped Test player against Japan, captaining the Wallabies for the third time in his 43rd cap.^[6] He captained the Wallabies on a fourth and final occasion on the 1987 Australia rugby union tour of Argentina before injury ended his tour prematurely. In 1988, he briefly retired from international rugby, reversing his decision 42 days later ahead of the 1988 Bledisloe Cup series.^[7] Following this series, Poidevin returned to the Australian side for the single 1989 Bledisloe Cup Test.^[8] He returned full-time to the Australian national squad for the 1991 season. Poidevin was a member of the Wallabies that won the 1991 Rugby World Cup,^[9] after which he retired from international rugby union.

Poidevin is one of only four Australian rugby union players, along with David Campese, Michael Lynagh and Nick Farr-Jones, to have won rugby union's Grand Slam, achieved a series victory in New Zealand, and won a Rugby World Cup.

Poidevin married Robin Fahlstom in 1995 and they have three sons Jean-Luc , Christian & Gabe

Early life

Poidevin was born on 31 October 1958 to Ann (née Hannan) and Paul Poidevin at Goulburn Base Hospital in Goulburn, New South Wales.^[10] He is the third of five children. He has two older siblings, Andrew and Jane, and two younger siblings, Joanne and Lucy.^[11] Poidevin's surname comes from Pierre Le Poidevin, a French sailor who had been imprisoned by the English in the 1820s, eventually settled in Australia and took an Irish wife.^[12] Poidevin grew up on a farm called 'Braemar' on Mummell Road, a 360-hectare property outside of Goulburn, where his family raised fat lambs and some cattle.^[12]

Poidevin comes from a family with a history of sporting achievements.^[10] His grandfather on his mother's side of his family, Les Hannan, was a rugby union player who was selected for the 1908–09 Australia rugby union tour of Britain.^[13] However, he broke his leg before the team departed from Australia and missed the tour.^[13] Hannan later fought in World War I in the 1st Light Horse Brigade, where he served as a stretcher bearer.^[13]

Poidevin's father's cousin, Dr Leslie Oswald Poidevin, was an accomplished cricketer, hitting 151 for New South Wales against McLaren's MCC side, and during the 1918–19 season he became the first Australian to score a century at all levels of cricket.^[10] He later became co-founder of the inter-club cricket competition in Sydney known as the Poidevin-Gray Shield.^[11] Dr Lesile Oswald Poidevin was also an accomplished tennis player.^[11] While studying medicine in Great Britain, he won the Swiss tennis championship and also played in the Davis Cup.^[11] In 1906, he represented Australasia with New Zealander, Anthony Wilding, when they were beaten by the United States at Newport, Wales.^[11] After this loss, Poidevin traveled to Lancashire to play cricket, where he made a century for his county the following day.^[11] Dr Leslie Oswald Poidevin's son, Dr Leslie Poidevin, was also an accomplished tennis player who won the singles tennis championship at Sydney University six years in a row between 1932 and 1937.^[11]

Poidevin's eldest sibling, Andrew, obtained a scholarship to study at Chevalier College at Bowral, where he represented NSW schoolboys playing rugby union.^[11] He went on to play rugby union for the Australian National University, ACT U-23s at breakaway, and later played with Simon for the University of New South Wales.^[11]

Poidevin's first school was the Our Lady of Mercy preparatory school in Goulburn where he was introduced to rugby league.^[11] He played for an under-6 team that was coached by Jeff Feeney, the father of the well-known motorbike rider, Paul Feeney.^[11] For his primary education, Poidevin attended St Patrick's College (now Trinity Catholic College), where rugby league was the only football code.^[11] His first team at St Patrick's College was the under-10s.^[11] During his childhood, Poidevin played rugby league with Gavin Miller, who would go on to play rugby league for the Australia national rugby league team, New South Wales rugby league team and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.^[14]

Poidevin changed football codes and played rugby union when he moved into senior school at St Patrick's College, where rugby union was the only form of rugby played.^[15] Poidevin made the school's 1st XV in his penultimate year at school and the team remained undefeated throughout the season.^[16] Following this, Poidevin made the ACT schools representative team for the Australian schools championship in Melbourne.^[17] The ACT schools representative team defeated New South Wales, but lost the final the Queensland.^[17]

Upon finishing school he played a season with the Goulburn Rugby Union Football Club and then, in 1978, he moved to Sydney to study at the University of New South Wales, from which he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science (Hons).^[18] He made his first grade debut with the university's rugby union team in 1978. In 1982 he moved clubs to Randwick, the famous Galloping Greens, home of the Ella brothers and many other Wallabies.

Rugby Union career

1979

New South Wales

In 1979 Poidevin made his state debut for New South Wales, replacing an injured Greg Craig for New South Wales’ return match against Queensland at T.G. Milner Field.^[19] Queensland defeated New South Wales 24–3.^[20]

1980

In 1980 Poidevin went on his first overseas rugby tour with the University of NSW to the west coast of North America.^[21] The tour included games against the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Stanford, UCLA, Long Beach State and Berkeley.^[21]

Sydney

Following the 1980 University of NSW tour to the west coast of America, Poidevin achieved selection for the Sydney rugby team coached by former Wallaby Peter Crittle.^[21] Shortly following this selection, the Sydney rugby side completed a brief tour to New Zealand, that included matches against Waikato, Thames Valley and Auckland. Sydney won all three games, including a 17–9 victory over Auckland.^[22] After returning to Australia from New Zealand, Poidevin participated in three preparatory matches Sydney played against Victoria, the ACT and the President's XV – all won convincingly by Sydney.^[23] Poidevin then played in Sydney's seventh game of their 1980 season against NSW Country, won 66–3.^[24] Poidevin popped the AC joint in his shoulder in the match against NSW Country when Country forward Ross Reynolds fell on top of him while he was at the bottom of a ruck.^[24] Due to this injury, Poidevin missed the interstate match between New South Wales and Queensland in 1980, which New South Wales won 36–20 – their first victory over Queensland since 1975.^[24]

Australia rugby union tour of Fiji

Shortly following Sydney's win against NSW Country, Poidevin achieved national selection for the 1980 Australia rugby union tour of Fiji.^[24] Poidevin concealed his shoulder injury, sustained in the Sydney match against NSW Country, from the Australian team management, so he could play for Australia.^[25]

Poidevin made his Australian debut in the Wallabies' first provincial match of the tour against Western Unions on 17 May 1980, which Australia won 25–11.^[1] Poidevin played in Australia's second game against Eastern Unions, won 46–14.^[1]

Poidevin made his Test debut for Australia following these two provincial matches against Fiji on 24 May 1980, won by Australia 22–9.^[1]

1980 Bledisloe Cup Test Series

Following the 1980 Australia rugby union tour of Fiji, Poidevin played in six consecutive matches against New Zealand – for Australian Universities, Sydney, NSW and in three Tests for the Wallabies.^[1]

Poidevin played in the first match of the 1980 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia and Fiji for Sydney against New Zealand, which was drawn 13–13.^[26] Shortly thereafter he played for New South Wales against New Zealand in the All Blacks' fifth match of the tour. New Zealand won the game 12–4.^[27]

Poidevin played in Australia's first Test of the 1980 Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand, won 13–9 by the Wallabies.^[27] Australia lost the second Test 12–9, in which Poidevin sustained a cut on his face after being rucked across the head by All Black Gary Knight.^[28]

Poidevin played for Australian Universities in New Zealand's 10th match of the tour, which was lost 33–3.^[28]

However, Poidevin played in the third and deciding Test of the 1980 Bledisloe Cup – his sixth consecutive match played against New Zealand in 1980 – won 26–10.^[29]

The series victory over New Zealand in 1980 was the first time Australia had ever retained the Bledisloe Cup, which they had won in 1979 in a one-off Test. It was the first three-Test series victory Australia had ever achieved over New Zealand since 1949, and the first three-Test series they had won against New Zealand on Australian soil since 1934.

1981

In 1981 Poidevin toured Japan with the Australian Universities rugby union team.^[30] Australian Universities won four games against Japan's university teams, but lost the final game against All Japan by one point.^[30]

Sydney

Following his brief tour of Japan, Poidevin was selected for the Sydney team to play against a World XV that included players such as New Zealand's Bruce Robertson, Hika Reid and Andy Haden, Wales’ Graham Price, Argentina's Alejandro Iachetti and Hugo Porta and Australia's Mark Loane.^[31] The game ended in a 16–16 draw.^[32]

Following this match Sydney undertook a procession of representative games that included playing Queensland at Ballymore.^[28] Sydney's unbeaten streak of 14 games was broken by Queensland after they defeated Sydney 30–4, scoring four tries.^[32] Sydney then lost to New Zealand side Canterbury before responding by defeating Auckland and NSW Country – both games were played at Redfern Oval.^[33]

New South Wales

Poidevin was then selected to play for New South Wales in a succession of the matches in 1981. The first match against Manawatu was won 58–3, with NSW scoring 10 tries.^[33] Victories over Waikato and Counties followed, before New South Wales were defeated by Queensland 26–15 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.^[33] New South Wales played Queensland in a return match a week later in Brisbane that was won 7–6.^[33]

1981 France rugby union tour of Australia

Poidevin played for Sydney against France in the third game France played for their 1981 France rugby union tour of Australia, won by Sydney 16–14.^[34] Poidevin then played for New South Wales against France for the fifth match of France's Australia tour, lost 21–12.^[34]

Poidevin achieved national selection for the two-Test series against France, despite competition for back row positions in the Australian team.^[34] The first Test against France marked the first time Poidevin played with Australian eighthman Mark Loane and contained the first try Poidevin scored at international Test level.^[35] In his biography, For Love Not Money, written with Jim Webster, Poidevin recalls that:

The first France Test at Ballymore held special significance for me because I was playing alongside Loaney for the first time. In my eyes he was something of a god... Loaney was a huge inspiration, and I tailed him around the field hoping to feed off him whenever he made one of those titanic bursts where he’d split the defence wide open with his unbelievable strength and speed.

Sticking to him in that Test paid off handsomely, because Loaney splintered the Frenchmen in one charge, gave to me and I went for the line for all I was worth. I saw Blanco coming at me out of the corner of my eye, but was just fast enough to make the corner for my first Test try. I walked back with the whole of the grandstand yelling and cheering. God and Loaney had been good to me."^[35]

Poidevin played in Australia's second Test against France in Sydney, won by Australia 24–14, giving Australia a 2–0 series victory.^[36]

1981–82 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland

In mid-August 1981 the ARFU held trials to choose a team for the 1981–82 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland.^[37] However, Poidevin was unavailable for these trials after breaking his thumb in a second division club game for the University of New South Wales against Drummoyne.^[37] Despite missing the trials, Poidevin still obtained selection for the Seventh Wallabies to tour the Home Nations.^[37]

Poidevin played in 13 matches of the 24-game tour, which included all four Tests and provincial matches against Munster ^[38] (lost 15–6) and North and Midlands ^[39] (won 36–6).

Poidevin played in Australia's Test victory over Ireland, won 16–12 (Australia's only victory on tour).^[40] Australia lost the second Test on tour against Wales 18–13 in what Poidevin later described as "one of the greatest disappointments I’ve experienced in Rugby."^[40] The Wallabies then lost their third Test on tour against Scotland 24–15. The final Test against England was lost 15–11.^[41]

1982

Randwick

Poidevin commenced 1982 by switching Sydney club teams, leaving the University of New South Wales for Randwick.^[42] In For Love Not Money, Poidevin explained that, "University of NSW had spent the previous two seasons in second division and I very much wanted to play my future club football each week at an ultra-competitive level, so that there wasn’t that huge jump I used to experience going from club to representative ranks."^[42] Shortly thereafter Poidevin played in the first Australian club championship between Randwick and Brothers, opposing his former Australian captain Tony Shaw.^[42] Randwick won the game 22–13.

Later in the year, Poidevin won his first Sydney premiership with Randwick in their 21–12 victory over Warringah, in which Poidevin scored two tries.^[43]

Sydney

In 1982 Poidevin played rugby union for Sydney under new coach Peter Fenton after Peter Crittle was elevated to coach of New South Wales.^[42] Poidevin commenced Sydney's 1982 rugby season with warm-up watches against Victoria and the ACT, before travelling to Fiji, where New South Wales defeated Fiji 21–18.^[42] A week later, Sydney defeated Queensland 25–9.^[44] The Queensland side featured many players who had played (or would play) for the Wallabies – Stan Pilecki, Duncan Hall, Mark Loane, Tony Shaw, Michael Lynagh, Michael O'Connor, Brendan Moon, Andrew Slack, and Paul McLean.^[44] Poidevin was then named captain of Sydney for their next game against NSW Country (won 43–3), after Sydney captain Michael Hawker withdrew with an injury.^[44]

In 1982, Scotland toured Australia and lost their third provincial game to Sydney 22–13.^[45] However, Poidevin's autobiography does not state whether he played in that game.

New South Wales

Poidevin continued to play for New South Wales in 1982, and travelled to New Zealand for a three-match tour with the team now coached by former Wallaby Peter Crittle and containing a new manager – future Australian coach Alan Jones.^[44] New South Wales won their first match against Waikato 43–21,^[44] their second match against Taranaki 14–9,^[46] and their third and final match against Manawatu 40–13.^[47]

Following the tour to New Zealand, Sydney played in a match against a World XV.^[47] However, because several European players withdrew, the World XV's forward pack was composed mainly of New Zealand forwards, including Graham Mourie, Andy Haden, Billy Bush and Hika Reid.^[47] Sydney won the game 31–13 with several of its players sustaining injuries.^[47] Poidevin was severely rucked across the forehead in the game and required several stitches to conceal the wound he sustained.^[48] All Black Andy Haden was later confronted by Poidevin at the post-match reception, where he denied culpability.^[48] Poidevin would later write that, "All evidence then seemed to point to Bush, who was the other prime suspect. But years later Mourie told me that he had been shocked at the incident and, being captain, he spoke to Haden about it at the time. Haden's response? He accused the captain of getting soft."^[49] Public calls were made for an injury into the incident, with NSW manager Alan Jones a prominent advocate for Poidevin. However, no action was taken.^[49] Poidevin would later write that with examination of videos and judiciary committees "the culprit(s) concerned would have spent a very long time out of the game."^[49]

Following NSW's game against the World XV, the team was set to play two interstate games against Queensland – both scheduled to be played in Queensland to celebrate the Queensland Rugby Union's centenary year.^[49] Queensland won the first game 23–16.^[49] Following an injury to New South Wales captain Mark Ella in the first game, Poidevin was made captain of the team for the first time in his career for the second game, lost 41–7 to Queensland.^[49]

Following the interstate series against Queensland, Scotland toured Australia, playing two Tests. With eightman Mark Loane likely to be selected for the Australian team, Poidevin was faced with strong competition for the remaining two back row positions at breakaway, with Tony Shaw, Gary Pearse, Peter Lucas and Chris Roche, all vying for national selection.^[49]

Prior to New South Wales' provincial game against Scotland, a newspaper headline read "Poidevin Needs a Blinder".^[49] Scotland defeated New South Wales 31–7, and Poidevin missed out on national selection, with newly appointed Australian coach Bob Dwyer selecting Queenslanders Chris Roche and Tony Shaw for the remaining back row positions.^[49] This was the first time Poidevin was dropped from the Australia team.

1982 Bledisloe Cup Series

After missing out on national selection for the two-Test series against Scotland, Poidevin regained his spot in the Australian side for the 1982 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand, after 10 Australian players (nine of them from Queensland) announced that for professional and personal reasons they were withdrawing from the tour.^[50]

The Australian side surprised rugby pundits with their early success, winning all five provincial games in the lead-up to the first Test.^[51] However, Australia lost the first Test to New Zealand 23–16 in Christchurch.^[52] Poidevin would later remark that: "Out on the field it felt like a real flogging, and personally I'd been well outplayed by their skipper Graham Mourie, a player of great intelligence and an inspiring leader."^[52]

Australia won the second Test 19–16 in what Poidevin would later call "one of the most courageous victories by any of the Australian sides with which I've been associated."^[52] Australia held a 19–3 halftime lead.^[53] From there, Poidevin recalled that:

Then we hung on against a massive All Black finishing effort. The harder they came at us, the more determinedly we cut them down in their tracks. We were desperate and we fought desperately. In the last 30 seconds of the game, I dived onto a loose ball and the All Blacks swarmed over me and Peter Lucas and we knew that if the ball went back out way we'd win the Test, and when Luco and I saw it heading back out side we actually started laughing with joy. We all began embracing and congratulating each other in highly emotional scenes. Against all odds, we'd beaten the All Blacks and suddenly had a chance to retain the Bledisloe Cup.^[53]

However, Australia would go on to lose the third and series-deciding Test to the All Blacks 33–18.^[43] Despite this, the tour was deemed a success for Australia, with the team scoring 316 points, including 47 tries on tour.^[43]

Following the tour, Poidevin played in another Queensland Rugby Union centenary game between the Barbarians and Queensland.^[43]

1983

1983 Australia rugby union tour of Italy and France

Poidevin was a member of the Wallabies for the 1983 Australia rugby union tour of Italy and France.^[54] Australia won their opening tour game against Italy B in L'Aquila 26–0, before travelling to Padova for the first Test on tour against Italy, won 29–7.^[55]

Australia won its first provincial game on the French leg of a tour, a 19–16 victory over a French selection XV in Strasbourg.^[56] However, Poidevin would later describe it as 'the most vicious game I've ever been part of.'^[56] The Wallabies drew the next game against French Police at Le Creusot, and then defeated another French selection side 27–7 at Grenoble.^[57] However, after remaining undefeated up until this point of the tour, Australia then lost two matches – a 15–9 defeat to a French Selection XV at Perpignan and a 36–6 loss to a French Selection XV at Agen.^[58]

Australia drew its first Test against France at Clermont-Ferrand 15–15. In For Love Not Money, Poidevin remembered that:

The first Test at Clermont-Ferrand produced a tremendously gutsy performance by Australia. We were literally so short on lineout jumpers that it was decided I should jump at number two in the lineouts against Lorieux. Well at the first lineout he had one look across at me and simply laughed. I had no hope of matching him, so I just tried knocking him sideways out of every lineout.

The team put up a determined effort in a Test which never rose to any heights. It was tight, unattractive and closely fought, and at the finish we managed a very satisfying 15-all draw.^[59]

Australia's back row of Poidevin, Chris Roche and Steve Tuynman received positive reviews for its performance in the first Test against the French back row, which included Jean-Pierre Rives.^[59]

Australia then won its next provincial match against French Army 16–10.^[59]

France defeated Australia in the second Test 15–6, giving them a 1–0–1 series victory over the Wallabies.^[60] In For Love Not Money, Poidevin documented that:

That Test was an excellent defensive effort by the Australian team. The French won so much possession it wasn't funny, and they came at us in wave after wave. But we cut them down time and again. How we held them out as much as we did I'll never know. It was another vicious game. I was kicked in the head early on and walked around in a daze for a while...

We had the chance to win the game. We were down only 9–6 when our hooker Tom Lawton was penalised in a scrum five metres from the French line for an early strike and the Frogs were out of trouble. Mark Ella also had a drop goal attempt charged down by Rives late in the game. Finally the French pulled off a blindside move, scored a remarkable try, and won 15–6.^[60]

Poidevin concluded the 1983 Australia rugby union tour of Italy and France in the Wallabies' 23–21 victory against the French Barbarians, in what he described as 'the most exciting game on tour.'^[60]

1984

In 1984, Australia coach Bob Dwyer was challenged by Manly coach Alan Jones for the position of national coach.^[61] Poidevin publicly supported Dwyer's reelection as national coach.^[62] However, on 24 February 1984, Jones replaced Dwyer as head of the Australia national team.^[62] Despite this, Poidevin would go on to become one of Jones' greatest supporters and loyal players. In For Love Not Money, Poidevin wrote of Jones that:

While Tempo (Bob Templeton) and Dwyer were leaders in their field in specific areas, Jonesy was undoubtedly the master coach and the best I've ever played under. He was a freak. Australian Rugby was very fortunate to have had a person with his extraordinary ability to coach our national team. New Zealand's Fred Allen and the British Lions' Carwyn James are probably the other most remarkable coaches of modern times. But given Alan Jones' skills in so many areas, and his record, probably no other rugby nation in the world has had anyone quite like him, and perhaps none ever will.^[63]

Sydney

Poidevin commenced his 1984 season in March by captaining a 23-man Sydney team for a six-match tour of Italy, France, England, Wales and Ireland.^[64] This was the second time the Sydney rugby team had undertaken a major tour, the first since 1977.^[65] Poidevin played throughout the tour with a broken finger, which he had sustained before departing from Australia.^[65] Sydney won the first game against the Zebre Invitation XV at Livorno in Italy, then won the second match against Toulon 25–18 at Toulon, and narrowly lost to Brive.^[66] In Great Britain, Sydney defeated a Brixham XV at Brixham, lost to Swansea by eight points in Swansea, and lost to Ulster 19–16 after leading them 16–0 at halftime.^[67] In For Love Not Money, lamented his debut performances captaining a representative rugby team:

...if I were able to relive that time over again, then I feel I might have become captain of Australia a lot sooner and remained in the role a lot longer. It was a terrific opportunity for to show just that I had to offer as the captain of representative teams, but I blew it.

How? Andy Conway was a terrific manager because of his efficiency and high standards, but he was a born worrier. Our coach Peter (Fab) Fenton was another fantastic bloke and very knowledgeable about rugby, but hardly the most organised or toughest coach you'd ever meet. It meant that I felt in the unfortunate position of having to both set and impose the discipline on the players on what was going to be a fairly demanding tour. And that task became very onerous to me. We also had several new young players in the team, and they needed help to fit into the way of a touring team. I had the added problem of having broken a finger before leaving and spent the whole of the tour in a fair bit of pain, which wasn't helped by the extremely cold weather we encountered. Personal problems at home also added to this dangerous cocktail.

All these factors added up to my not be able to give the captaincy role the complete attention it required. I wasn't nearly as good as I should have been and I daresay that some of the players returned from the tour with fairly mixed feelings about my leadership qualities. And I've no doubt that the Manly players in the team who had Jones's ear would have told him so too.^[65]

Later in the year, during the 1984 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia, and after Australia's first Test victory over New Zealand, controversy arose when eight Sydney players were withdrawn from New Zealand's tour match against Sydney – Poidevin, Phillip Cox, Mark Ella, Michael Hawker, Ross Reynolds, Steve Williams, Steve Cutler and Topo Rodriguez.^[68] This decision drew criticism from the Sydney Rugby Union and its coach Peter Fenton.^[69] However, Poidevin was not allowed to play in Sydney's game against the All Blacks, lost 28–3.^[69]

Randwickedit

After playing through the Sydney rugby club's 1984 European tour with a broken finger, Poidevin had surgery on his broken finger before returning to his first game for Randwick in 1984 on 19 May, playing against Sydney University in a match where he scored two tries.^[70]

1984 Australia rugby union tour of Fijiedit

Poidevin's national representative season for the Wallabies commenced on the 1984 Australia rugby union tour of Fiji.^[71] He played in the Wallabies' first tour game – a 19–3 victory against Western XV at Churchill Park.^[72] He was then rested for the second match against the Eastern Selection XV at National Stadium, which Australia won 15–4.^[73] He then played in Australia's single Test on tour, a 16–3 victory over Fiji.^[74] In For Love Not Money, Poidevin recalled that:

Australia won the Test in pretty foul conditions by 16–3. Heavy rain had made it hard going under foot, but we played very controlled rugby against the Fijians, who really find the tight XV-a-side game too much for them. They much prefer loose, broken play when their natural exuberance takes over and then they can play brilliantly. Afterwards, the Fijian media singled out the full-back and one of the wingers and blatantly accused them of having lost the Test – a type of reporting you don't normally see elsewhere in the world. But it wasn't the fault of any of the Fijian players. In fact, our forward effort that afternoon in difficult conditions was outstanding, and Mark Ella also had a terrific game. He kicked a field goal that many of the Fijian players disputed, but the referee Graham Harrison thought it was okay and that's all that mattered. Mark also set up a brilliant try, involving Lynagh and Moon and eventually scored by Campese, who was playing full-back.^[74]

New South Walesedit

Following the 1984 Australia rugby union tour of Fiji, Poidevin was among several New South Wales players who declined to go on the Waratahs 1984 three-match tour to New Zealand.^[75] However, following this tour he played for New South Wales against Queensland at Ballymore in a game the Waratahs lost 13–3.^[75] Poidevin then played for New South Wales against the All Blacks in New Zealand's second game of the 1984 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia, which the Waratahs lost 37–10.^[76] Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Simon_Poidevin
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