John Eales: The Biography

John Eales is a giant of a man who stands almost 6 foot 8 inches tall. In rugby union he plays with the big men in tight forwards - in the lineouts, scrums, rucks and malls. This is a brutal world of strength, power and toughness. So why is Eales Australia's most loved player? Perhaps it's because although he talks the tough stuff on he can also be seen screaming across the field in cover defence, or charging down a kick (even once a kick at the goal), or saving a goal by leaping above the crossbar and tapping the ball back into the field of play, or leaping higher than any in the lineout, or diving like a sprawling gully fielder to snaffle a kick through on the full, or kicking goals himself from the sideline. John Eales' all round athleticism is unsurpassed. But there's more than this. Eales is an inspirational leader through his actions and his relentless determination. He is often one of the first chosen in the all-time allstar world teams of many. This book also traces the history of the Wallabies throughout the nineties and beyond - it's full of revelation and straight-talking.FitzSimons, Peter is the author of 'John Eales: The Biography', published 2001 under ISBN 9780733310126 and ISBN 0733310125.