Mark Ella

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Playing career

Ella was one of the five most successful Australian players he had ever seen, according to Bob Dwyer, former Wallabies coach. Ella was praised as number one "for understanding of the game's system," Dwyer said of the five-eighth's position: "A five-eighth's primary role is to draw defence and so open up space for the runners outside him." This is how Ella came to a five-eight position.

Ella's approach to playing the five-eighth position was different from that of any other five-eighth of his time, and it included many specifics that were not present in his five-eighth cousins. "First, he's closer to his scrum-half halves I've played with or against," Gareth Edwards writes in 100 Great Rugby Players, so he can't move forwards to harass the midfield after he has released ownership. According to the old formula for the right-angled triangle, this means I was no more than three meters wide of him."

Ella's game featured more straight running. This was supposed to attract defenders against him at a certain angle and encourage his teammates to fall apart.

Ella wrote:

Ella's game calls for exceptional ball handling skills, which were a hallmark of her game. Former Scottish rugby international Norman Mair's praise of Ella's reliable hands was lauded by former Scottish rugby international Norman Mair in The Scotsman: "Ella has hands so tight that when he fumbled a ball against Scotland (in 1984), you would not be surprised to see those Australians of the appropriate religious conviction cross themselves."

Ella's scrum-half's manner was troubling; Ella did not give a single cent to the speed at which the ball was delivered to him, confident in his ability to effectively hold the ball. "Once you have positioned yourself, the next thing is to request a fast pass from the halfback." The quicker the ball reaches you, the better, because every fraction of a second is critical to the five-eighth, considering that the opposition can be on top of him in less than two seconds. I used to insist that the ball be delivered like a rocket to me.

Ella had a distinguishing feature of instantly igniting a backline movement. His keenness and ability to'read the play' are shown by his much-anticipated passing game. "In his deft execution, he wastes no strides holding the ball he does not want to use, and flips it in a fraction of a second," Gareth Edwards wrote of Ella.

Ella's passing the ball at a breakneck pace is, however, not required. Ella's backline executions were expertly controlled by the timing and speed of his passages. Ella writes: "Quick passes are often a sign that the five-eighth isn't interested in the story." He (the five-eighth) is yelling his automatic dismissal, claiming that this is what he should be doing without really investigating the play and the possibilities that might not exist at this time. He is handing over the initiative to the opposition by doing so.

Mair summed Ella's success on the famous 1984 Grand Slam tour in The Scotsman, saying: "Nothing about the football of the likable Ella excels his support." Ella's ability to materialize in a given area is of the spirit world," Gareth Edwards wrote that, "In rugby, the word 'link-man' is almost a cliché, but I must choose to sum up Mark's gifts."

Edwards continues writing that:

Ella's ability to'keep the ball alive' throughout his career resulted in some remarkable performances. Such "faultless positional play in support" culminated in a play that was regarded by many as a classic of entertainment. Gareth Edwards concludes his essays on Ella: "We're mainly concerned about players' unmatched abilities to play the game in this book," he writes, "but it's worth noting here that Mark Ella provided thrilling entertainment to fans as well as demonstrating his skills."

International career

Ella was competing for national selection during a 1979 Ireland rugby union tour of Australia, which included two Tests. Ella played for New South Wales in Ireland's third tour game, but NSW lost 12-16 on May 26, 1979. Ella also appeared for Sydney in Ireland's seventh tour game, which Sydney defeated 16-12. Feros Slattery, the Irish captain and flanker, said after the tour that Mark Ella was the Australian five-eighth who caused the most difficulty to Ireland.

Ella was again overlooked for national selection for Australia's one-off Bledisloe Cup Test in 1979 versus New Zealand, which Australia beat New Zealand 12-6 in a tryless Test.

Following Australia's 1979 Bledisloe Cup victory, Bob Templeton has taken over Dave Brockhoff as the head coach of Australia's national rugby union team. Templeton selected Ella for the 1979 Australia rugby union tour of Argentina, with Australia scoring just one try in the last three Tests. Ella made his Wallabies debut against Interior on October 16, 1979, scoring a goal for the first time in a 47-12 victory. Ella was in Australia's fourth touring match against Rosario, which Australia beat Rosario 21-13.

Following injuries to Paul McLean and Roger Gould, Ella was close to winning national recognition for the first Test. The possibility that the Australian selectors might have shifted incumbent five-eighth Tony Melrose to fullback, allowing Ella to fill the five-eighth role. However, McLean played fullback with a fractured wrist in plaster, denying Ella the possibility of playing his first Test for Australia. Ella played in Australia's last provincial match against Cuyo, winning 43-4 between the first and second Australian Tests against Argentina.

Tony Melrose, Australia's incumbent five-eighth, retired as a professional in 1980 and joined rugby league. Ella was then selected for the 1980 Australia rugby union tour of Fiji, following this. After Brisbane five-eighth Paul McLean was selected at fullback against Fiji in 1980, Ella was a surprise omission at five o'clock for Australia's one-off Test against Fiji in 1980. However, five-eighth Michael Hawker of Sydney University was selected ahead of Ella for the five-eighth position.

With a 2-1 series victory over the New Zealand All Blacks in 1980, the Australia Wallabies kept the Bledisloe Cup. The 1980 Bledisloe Cup Test series was the Wallabies' first three-Test series victory over the All Blacks since 1949, and the first three-Test series victory over the All Blacks on Australian soil since 1934.

Ella played against the All Blacks in their first touring match against Sydney, where they were drawn 13-13-13. Ella was named Man of the match award. Andrew Slack, the Australian outside center, reacted angrily to injury prior to Australia's first Test against New Zealand in 1980. Mark Ella at five-eighth, Michael Hawker at center, and Michael O'Connor at outside center were selected from the 1977/78 Australian Schoolboys' midfield. O'Connor had intended to play on the outside of Slack.

Ella "opened the scoring with a dropped goal" on his non-preferred right boot when making his Wallabies debut. With the scores tied at 9-9, Ella gave Australian winger Mick Martin a chance by looping Michael Hawker. Australia defeated the first Test 13-9, and they were very proud.

Australia lost the second Test 9-12.

Queensland five-eighth Paul McLean played in a landmark Queensland victory over New Zealand (9-3), putting Ella into question for Test selection. Ella was suspended for the third Test against New Zealand, though McLean was on the bench.

Mark Ella's third Test against New Zealand in 1980 featured one of Mark Ella's most memorable moments - his "around-the-body-pass" - one of his career's most memorable moments - his third Test against New Zealand. Bret Harris, Ella's biographer, confirms it:

Ella's "around-the-body-pass" kicked his second drop-goal in international rugby, this time on his non-preferred right foot. Australia's then-largest victory over New Zealand was 26-10 in the final score.

Ella was dropped from Australia's Queensland side for Queensland five-eighth Paul McLean after Australia's remarkable victory over New Zealand in 1980's interstate championships.

Later, Australian coach Bob Templeton said Ella's resignation that "the French were a more volatile team than the All Blacks and we had to change our strategy accordingly." Any loose ball or mistake could be dynamite. So we were certainly a little more conservative."

Without Ella, Australia barely won the first Test 17-15. Paul McLean scored one goal out of seven attempts.

Roger Gould was selected to play fullback for the second Test after losing Geoff Richards in the first Test. However, Gould was forced to miss the second Test due to an injury. Wallabies coach Bob Templeton used incumbent five-eighth Paul McLean at fullback for the second Test against France, and reinstated Mark Ella at five-eighth position.

Ella tried to hurt Australian outside centre Michael O'Connor by looping his hair inside centre Michael Hawker in the 57th minute of the Test.

McLean kicked four penalty goals and two conversions.

...

Mark's fitness to lead the Wallabies was questioned in 1984, but the Queenslander Andrew Slack was given the captaincy instead. The Wallabies toured the United Kingdom and secured success in all four tests after a narrow loss to the All Blacks. Mark had a "Grand Slam" by scoring a try in every test match of the series, something he had also done on the 1977/78 Australian Schoolboys tour. Ella stunned rugby by announcing his retirement at the age of 25, turning down numerous big money offers along the way.

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