With one mighty boot, around 45 metres out on the touchline, Ulster’s Philip ‘Chipper’ Rainey, clinched a historic first victory over an international touring side.
And not just any touring side, this was the formidable Wallabies side, who defeated England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland on their European tour, completing a Grand Slam against international opposition.
Australia’s then Tour Manager, Dr Chilla Wilson, said that the Wallabies were confident going into the match at Ravenhill and told the BBC: “We know that they (Ulster) will have a go at us up front and run the ball, so it will be a very difficult game and one we must win.”
Ulster and Ireland winger, Trevor Ringland, described the Australians as a ‘very attractive side’ who would be ‘very dangerous’.
Ringland knew all about the Aussie side, having been one of a few Ulstermen who had lost to Australia the weekend before at Lansdowne Road, after Ireland were beaten 16-9.
Coached by Jimmy Davidson, Ulster boasted a side containing many international players led by the captain David Irwin in the centre. Up front there were props, Paul Kennedy and Jimmy McCoy, hooker John McDonald, second rows Willie Anderson and Brian McCall and the back-row trio of Philip Matthews, Nigel Carr and Willie Duncan.
In the backs, Irwin led an Irish back three of Keith Crossan, Trevor Ringland and Philip Rainey. Players who would be the backbone of Irish and Ulster rugby in the years to come.
Australia came to town with stars in tow, Michael Lynagh lined up in the centre and Michael Hawker captained the XV. Legendary winger, David Campese, was also in the squad that day.
The match itself was played on a late Wednesday afternoon, under the lights with the darker nights pulling in closer. The conditions from those in attendance were said to be horrible… with splashes of mud met with swirling wind and rain lasting in spectators’ memories.
Not the kind of weather you would get often in the sun-kissed climates of Brisbane or Sydney.
Ulster went after the Wallabies from the start, getting stuck into their opponents through fast counter rucks and forcing pressure on the away side.
An Ian Brown penalty and Rainey drop goal gave Ulster a 6-3 lead at half-time.
The Australians regrouped after half-time and showed their quality, with winger, Peter Grigg, scoring two impressive tries to give the away side a 13-6 lead.
Ulster didn’t let the turnaround get to them, and kept plugging away, with fly-half, Ian Brown, narrowing the scoreline via two well taken penalties.
Then a pivotal and historic moment. A loose ball down the left had Keith Crossan busting a gut to reach, but for David Campese to knock on into touch.
With minutes left on a clock and Australia leading by 13-12, referee Ray Megson awarded the home side a penalty over 40 metres out on the touchline.
Up stepped full-back, Rainey, who was seen as a stronger kicker than Brown from distance.
His kick thankfully sailed through the posts and the Ravenhill crowd unleashed a famous roar.
Ulster held onto their narrow lead for the final seven minutes of the contest and on the referee’s whistle, the crowd leapt to their approval. History made and witnessed.
Ulster prop, Jimmy McCoy, remembered the special atmosphere at Ravenhill, adding:
“The crowd were really behind us, the weather that day was awful but everybody stayed to the end. That result put Ulster on the map and it helped make Ravenhill a fortress in the years to come.”
The match-winner and headline maker, Philip Rainey, recalled: “The kick was reasonably difficult. I walked back three or four steps and remember a chunk of grass near the touchline. I was able to tee it up and it was just one of those kicks, I hit it in the sweet spot.”
Ulster’s skipper, David Irwin, said that the result acted as a platform for the side for the years to come.
“There were a lot of players who played together for a long time. We knew we were a good side and that win felt like a turning point, as it set us off on the way to winning 20 out of 21 interpros over a seven-year period and we also beat other international sides like Samoa, Fiji, Canada, Spain and Italy.
“The only regret when we look back is that we weren’t professional so it would have been interesting to test ourselves on that stage.”
Forty years on, the match still is talked about as one of the greatest days in Ulster Rugby’s storied history.
The day that the mighty Australia were taken down by the Ulstermen.
Full Time: Ulster 15-13 Australia
Teams
Ulster:
(15-9): P Rainey (Lansdowne); T Ringland (Ballymena), D Irwin (Instonians, Captain), I Moles (Ards), K Crossan (Instonians); I Brown (Malone), R Brady (Queen’s University);
(1-8): P Kennedy (London Irish), J McDonald (Malone), J McCoy (Dungannon), B McCall (London Irish), W Anderson (Dungannon), N Carr (Ards), P Matthews (Ards), W Duncan (Malone).
Australia:
(15-9): J Black; P Grigg, T Lane, M Lynagh, M Burke; M Hawker (Captain), P Cox;
(1-8): S Pelecki, T Lawton, A McIntyre, N Holt, W Campbell, W Calcraft, D Codey, M Reynolds.
Replacement: D Campese for J Black.
Referee: R Megson (Scotland).