By which point he had Harris for company, the stand-off turned outside-half who – if you believed the hype – had come to save Welsh rugby.
The grandson of Abercarn-born Norman Harris, who had turned out for Ebbw Vale and Pontypool before going north, the then-25-year-old had dominated with Leeds in Super League, enough for the Welsh Rugby Union to arrange a deal worth reportedly as much as £1.5m.
He had only added to the pressure by scoring a hat-trick on his first start for Cardiff in a European game against Glasgow.
“In a sense that was the worst thing that could have happened to me,” said Harris at the time.
A year after lining up alongside Sullivan for Wales’ rugby league side at the same stadium, Harris’ debut was marred by mistakes that led to an opening Argentina try, while his game-management was criticised in contrast to counterpart Felipe Contemponi as the Pumas ran out 30-16 winners, their first victory over Wales.
Sullivan would play just once more against Tonga before seeing out his contract – and career – at Cardiff, retiring from both codes in 2003.
Harris was switched to inside centre, featuring at the 2003 Rugby World Cup before heading back to Super League a year later after 25 caps, signing for Bradford Bulls and helping them to a title and World Club Challenge success.
Harris went on to coach Wales’ rugby league side, coaching a young Regan Grace. Almost 23 years since Harris went south, no doubt there will be an interested glance at how the union rookie fares down under.
