0
For mine, Gregan now starts head and shoulders above the rest of the field to be leading the team in France.
Not only has he had the best season of all the #9's in Australia, this is combined with the awesome record of big match experience and the respect and confidence of his peers.
Also it is obviously preferable that our first pick #10 (Larkham) is paired with the #9 he is most familiar and comfortable.
As the two Reserves in the WC Squad, I would go for Henjak for his different style at the Scrum base and extra Backrow defence and for Holmes for his pass and flair.
Post WC I would replace Gregan with Will Genia from the Reds, this young man has the most amazing flat pass over any distance, I don't think I have seen a better pass this year in S14.
Gregan still in cup mix
By Peter Jenkins
April 30, 2007
ANY decision to dump George Gregan for the World Cup in France is on hold until the Australia skipper is handed the chance to prove he remains the country's leading halfback.
Australia selectors are planning to launch a casting call over the next three months for a key position they concede is an ongoing trouble spot for the national side.
There remains a strong push to permanently install Matt Giteau in the role, rookie New South Wales No.9 Josh Holmes has the antennae twitching on several Test officials and Queenslander Sam Cordingley will soon return from a long-term injury.
But The Daily Telegraph has also been told that Gregan, the world's most capped player who bypassed last year's November tour to Europe, will be recalled at some stage during the first three Tests of the year against Wales and Fiji, starting next month.
The 34-year-old, who debuted as a Wallabies player in 1994, played a leading hand in the Brumbies' 15-6 victory over Super 14 champions the Crusaders on Saturday night in Canberra.
Former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns, now a Fox Sports commentator, claimed after the match the Brumbies' halves pairing of Gregan and Stephen Larkham - on the back of the result against the Crusaders - had to be first-choice selections for the Test team.
While Larkham has no challengers, Wallabies coach John Connolly conceded last night the halfback position was still "open".
But Gregan, according to one source, is guaranteed of a Test start during the countdown to the World Cup to assess whether he remains a leading option for the showpiece event in September-October.
Connolly refused to be drawn on the speculation.
"I guess the game on the weekend was a pretty compelling argument to have George and Stephen play No.9 and No.10 at some stage," he said.
"But I've also said from day one, we've got to build a squad of 30 good players that we can interchange when necessary.
"My view hasn't changed on that in respect of the seven Tests we will play leading into the World Cup.
"I'd be very surprised if anyone in the Wallabies squad plays all those Tests. As for halfback, all I can say is that George is strongly in the mix.
"The options at No.9 are wide. We have Gregan, we've got Cordingley coming back probably through the Australia A program, Matt Henjak has improved, Brett Sheehan and Josh Valentine were taken on the tour last year.
"We're also watching the development of Holmes with a lot of interest and where Giteau ends up playing is clearly going to be a factor."
The one reservation to shifting Giteau into halfback, where he played on last year's trip to Europe, is who to rely on as his replacement at inside centre.
There are no standout candidates and a No.12 may have to be fashioned. Ryan Cross, the Force outside centre, has been mentioned as one possibility. Another the selectors might consider is the versatile Brumbies back Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Intriguingly, Connolly revealed even if Giteau went to the World Cup as a halfback, another two No.9 specialists would be taken as cover in case the Wallabies' highest-paid star was required elsewhere.
The admission gives further hope to Gregan's chances of farewelling Australian rugby from the game's biggest stage.
Reply With Quote
