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All Blacks fear fatigue, Gregan
By Jon Geddes
June 20, 2007
NEW Zealand fears an Australian ambush in the Bledisloe Cup Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground a week on Saturday, with Wallabies scrum half George Gregan identified as the danger man.
Former New Zealand captain Stu Wilson described Gregan yesterday as being critical to the Wallabies' chances in both the Tri-Nations series and the Rugby World Cup in France later this year.
"I thought he was the form Australian halfback in the Super 14," Wilson said yesterday.
"He may not be the youngest of men, but he has a huge amount of experience. He doesn't get flustered.
"George just keeps the big grunts (forwards) and the backs going. He is a quality player and, when it hits the fan, you want guys to make the right decisions.
"In these big games, you make one bad decision, one poor choice, and basically you are buggered. And he doesn't make too many mistakes."
The fact that Australia has dropped to No.4 in the latest world rankings has done nothing to alleviate the New Zealanders' concerns about the match.
"The thing about Australia, they know how to beat us," Wilson said.
"Unlike the New Zealand public, the All Blacks always worry about the Wallabies. They know when Australia have most of their key players - Gregan, (Stephen) Larkham and (Daniel) Vickerman - they are a very smart team.
Wilson said the Kiwis' task had been made more difficult by their demanding schedule, which involves playing the Springboks in Durban on Saturday night before backing up against the Wallabies.
"Don't tell me travelling from Auckland to South Africa and then back to Australia doesn't affect you," Wilson said.
"All the scientific research tells you your body clock suffers.
"We have to go over and have a crack at an angry bunch of rhino hunters then fly to Melbourne and play a team which has had a week off. And we haven't actually had a tough game yet."
Wilson, now a leading TV commentator, said the All Blacks would not know how good they were until they had played a quality team.
Wilson said this season they had played two games against a vastly understrength France "C" team and one against Canada.
His views were echoed by Australian Rugby Union vice-chairman Peter Cosgrove after the Wallabies' 22-19 loss to South Africa last weekend.
"I think the All Blacks will take in a sense of unease," Cosgrove said.
"They are going to go to Durban and have a very confrontational game there.
"They are going to be wanting to have their best team on the paddock for the Bledisloe Cup game in Melbourne, and I think the Wallabies will be there waiting for them."
While Wilson was wary of the Australians, he warned that they tended to struggle if one or two stars were taken out of the side.
Wilson was impressed by the Wallabies' display against the Springboks in Cape Town.
"Quite simply, the Wallabies' defence was outstanding," he said.
"It kept them in the game and then they got nailed by the dreaded drop goal."
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Originally Posted by Wilson
