ERIC ELWOOD MAY have been just a year into his Ireland career but he was already established as the country’s number one outhalf by the time Jonny Bell came on the scene.
The centre from Ulster was 20 when he was selected alongside Elwood for the First Test against Australia in 1994.
19 years later, both men will prowl the sidelines for their native provinces. While Elwood will be looking to win his last interprovincial match as Connacht coach, Bell will be eager to claim a win at the Sportsground to help secure a home Pro12 semi-final.
“Eric is a proud and passionate man; he’s one of the best,” Bell told TheScore.ie. ”He has done a terrific job with Connacht and they very much play in his style.”
Bell describes Elwood, who will be succeeded by Pat Lam next season, as ‘a fantastic fella’. Despite the mere five-year age gap, the Ulster backs coach explains how he looked up to the Galwegian as a schoolboy-turned-Ireland international.
Bell puts Elwood on the ground in a 1999 inter-pro clash. (©INPHO/Patrick Bolger)
“I was on the 1994 tour to Australia as a 20-year-old,” he recalled. “To get an opportunity to play alongside this outhalf, who I had watched on television growing up, was memorable.” He added:
It was many moons ago now but we travelled to Australia in good spirits. We had beaten England in the Five Nations earlier that year, with Simon Geoghegan getting the try and Eric kicking the rest of the points [in a 13-12 win].
“I was an excited young lad, just out of my teens, competing against one of the toughest teams in the world against household names. It was a tough tour. The club sides were stacked with international talent. They had the likes of Jason Little, Tim Horan and David Campese playing for sides like New South Wales and Queensland.”
The First Test saw the Aussies run in six tries in a 33-13 romp in Brisbane. Six days later, at Sydney Football Stadium, Ireland regained a measure of pride but still lost out, 32-18.
Their finest international win together came in Cardiff, three years later, when they beat a talented Welsh side 26-25. Elwood kicked 11 points and Bell scored the opening try.
A similarly close game is expected at the Sportsgrounds tomorrow night and Bell would be happy with if one point was the winning margin for the Ulstermen.
For both men, the business of winning rugby games comes first. The reminiscing will be reserved for the players’ lounge [dressing room] afterwards.
