Peter John Carson

Peter Carson was a tough as teak, gutsy, halfback with a fantastic pass who is one of the few Wallabies who can proudly say they never lost a Test against New Zealand.

A great team man, Carson spent the best part of a decade in the shadow of the great John Hipwell although when called upon to play representative rugby for Sydney he was something of a good luck charm. During his nine-year career with the Saxe Blue & Golds the team defeated England, Ireland, Wales, France and Scotland, and earned a draw with New Zealand.

In 1979, and after two poor losses to Ireland, the national selectors hardened the pack and picked the Sydney halves combination of Carson and Tony Melrose. Carson hounded his eight all day and Australia prevailed 12-6 to beat the All Blacks for only the second time since 1964, win their first Bledisloe Cup since 1949 and defeat New Zealand on home soil for the first time since 1934. On the strength of his ‘man-of-the-match’ performance Carson was selected for the tour to Argentina as the number one halfback however, in quite amazing circumstances, he was unable to play in the first Test due to a severe case of sunburn.

Phillip Cox then wore the No.9 jersey for five successive Tests before the 1980 second Test loss to New Zealand saw Carson reinstated for what was the deciding Test of that series. Yet again Carson was simply outstanding and he topped his performance with a typical blind side snipe then dummy pass to score his first Test try. The return of John Hipwell for the home series against France in 1981 and his non-selection for the Seventh Wallabies tour of Britain precipitated Carson’s retirement from representative football.

Highlights

1979

Carson won his first Test cap at halfback inside Tony Melrose in the 12-6 victory over New Zealand at the S.C.G.

1980

Carson was recalled at the expense of Phillip Cox to partner Mark Ella for the 3rd Test, 26-10 defeat of New Zealand in Sydney. Carson scored Australia’s fourth try to seal an emphatic victory.