Gregan future in doubt
Questions are being raised about the future of George Gregan’s international career after Australia coach John Connolly reportedly asked the scrum-half to consider sitting out Australia’s end-of-season tour to Europe in November.
Wallabies spokesperson Michael Earsman said Connolly had asked the veteran number nine to think about standing aside for the tour to let the brigade of talented young Australian half-backs get some international experience before next year’s World Cup.
Earsman told ABC Sport: “He [Connolly] had one conversation with him [Gregan] regarding that, to gauge his thoughts on resting.
“It is at a very preliminary stage.”
Earsman said Gregan had been asked to “go away and provide some feedback”.
Gregan, a member of the 1999 World Cup-winning side, is the most capped player in rugby union history and on Saturday night equalled John Eales’ record for the most number of games as captain of Australia with 55 Tests.
But with the Bledisloe Cup gone and the Tri-Nations series title almost certainly belonging to New Zealand, Connolly is looking ahead to his squad for the World Cup in France in 2007 and there are a pack of eager young half-backs waiting to grab the chance to play for the Wallabies.
