No more passing the buck for Campo

Five hundred corporate clients will be there, forking out £50,000 for the privilege, which only goes to prove that Campese is as smart off the field as he used to be on it, with the notable exception of 'That Pass'.

The Lions that week will not be the only show in town. After such a hair- raising incident, it is not surprising that the old adversaries should find themselves follicallychallenged while still in their Thirties. 'Mate, this is a match to see who's got the most hair left,' said Campese said. 'Should be a close call.'

With former Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer in attendance on the night to keep count, the dinner promoters outline the bald facts of the bigger picture in their advertising blurb:

'The final Test of a gruelling three-match series. One Test-all, 20 minutes remain with Australia struggling to a 12- 9 lead. Rob Andrew misses an attempted drop goal, David Campese catches the ball in his own in-goal area, starts off with a mind to counterattack, is confronted by British Lions winger Ieuan Evans, then attempts to throw a pass to full back Greg Martin. It lands perfectly in the hands of Evans, who, forever the opportunist, scores the match-winning and indeed the series-winning try.

'Does time really heal the wounds?'

As the self-inflicted variety go, Campo's still cuts deep, though not as deep as on the night in question when he drove home in such turmoil that an unsympathetic traffic policeman booked him for speeding at almost 70 in a built-up zone.

According to the man himself, what hurt him far more than the fine was the after-match reaction, or lack of it, from the other Wallabies, that 'not a single player crossed that dressing-room floor to offer a word of consolation'.

The abuse which followed was enough to drive him to mocking comparison with a modern- day Ned Kelly, 'guilty of the most appalling crimes known to mankind'.

It drove his captain, Nick Farr-Jones, to write a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, published as follows: 'Not only as captain of the national team, but as an Australian, it disturbs me to hear and read the constant and, at times, vilifying attacks on one of our greatest sportsmen, David Campese.

'Campo's blunder last Saturday was careless and costly. But few of the Australian players would be satisfied with their performances, myself included.

'To Campo I say: Yes, one bad mistake but, mate, if I was a selector you would always be one of the first picked, with no handcuffs or chains to inhibit you. Nick Farr-Jones.'

Confession being good for the soul, and, in this case, for the bank balance as well, the idea sprang from a casual conversation between Campese and his business confidant, Daryl McGraw.

'David said "It's about time I had a chat with Ieuan about that pass I threw,"; explained McGraw. 'When we phoned Ieuan, he said: "I'd love to talk about it but will he?"'

Campese has never mentioned the incident whenever the pair have bumped into each other over the years, but that's about to change. 'Mate, I don't want to give much away at this stage,' he said. 'It would spoil the show.'