Aussies split on whether it's time

George Gregan says when the enjoyment wanes he'll quit. Picture / Chris Skelton

When the Wallabies jog on to Eden Park next Saturday, barring a selectorial shift of quantum proportions, they'll be led by a short bloke with a polished dome who is the world's most capped player.

But whether George Gregan should even be in Australia's team is the subject of robust debate in Australia. As the New Zealand rugby public fret over frazzled lineouts or whether the best team should always be picked, Australia have their Gregan stoush.

Essentially it boils down to this: is Gregan, who will win his 126th test cap at Eden Park, still good enough to justify his place? Has time finally caught up with the 33-year-old?

Is he on borrowed time?

It's a given that Gregan's best days are gone. He still has good moments, but rarely threatens the defensive line with his running or shapes the flow of a match as he once could. Yet he retains a core of support, as much as he attracts vehement criticism.

Take Greg Growden, longtime senior rugby writer at the Sydney Morning Herald, who this week took aim at Gregan, and didn't miss.

"Forget what all of George Gregan's lickspittle mates in the print and broadcast media are gibbering on about, and do what [previous coach] Eddie Jones was going to do this year if he hung around long enough - get rid of the skipper," roared the respected Growden.

Then there's Jones, dumped as Wallaby captain for John Connolly this year, and the man who stood by Gregan through thick and thin last year. He has suggested it's time to look at options, and when it comes to Gregan, that's Jones-speak that it's time to move on from the 12-year veteran. There are options.

But Sam Cordingley is sidelined with a foot injury, and next cab on the rank is Waratah Brett Sheehan, who is uncapped. Young Queenslander Josh Holmes is well regarded and there is a chunk of support for moving second five-eighth Matt Giteau back to the position where he spent his youth.

Former All Black halfback Justin Marshall this week spoke up in Gregan's defence, opining that Gregan is still the best halfback in Australia, even if he's not the best on the planet, as he was in earlier, younger years.

Nick Farr-Jones, who captained Australia to their first World Cup triumph at Twickenham in 1991, is heartily sick of the Gregan critics .

It's likely Gregan will miss Australia's end-of-year tour to the northern hemisphere.

That's fine by Farr-Jones, who played 63 in the gold No 9 jersey from 1984 to 1993.

"If he wants to recharge his batteries, and he thinks that's best for his ability to play to his top performance next year, I'd be totally supportive of him not going on the tour," Farr-Jones said.

"I get quite pissed off about all the inter-meddling and advice coming externally.

"If I was captaining the team I'd get annoyed about all these people trying to tell me what I should and shouldn't do. The decision should come internally and we should respect that."

Farr-Jones says he believes there is nothing more for Gregan to prove in rugby terms on a tour, and reckons there is nothing wrong with what he calls Gregan's "athletic capacity".

"I suspect some of the times he hasn't played well he's down on confidence. I went through that.

"Every international sportsperson would say they've been through times when they were in a trough, when their confidence was down.

"If he gets his confidence up he can be as good a halfback as anyone."

And the alternatives? Farr-Jones begged off commenting on most challengers as he had not seen enough of them in action - bar one.

"I think Matt Giteau would be a fantastic No 9. He would put pressure on defences round the rucks, and that's where he grew up playing."

As for Gregan? He says he does not play rugby to answer his critics and isn't planning to go anywhere in a hurry.

"I play to become a better player and enjoy it. I love getting out on the field and playing and as soon as that wanes I'll know it's time."