Campese lays into Gregan

David Campese

The bad blood continues between David Campese and fellow Wallabies rugby legend George Gregan, with Campese today saying Gregan should be axed for good by coach John Connolly.

Campese has applauded Connolly's decision to bench his captain for tomorrow's second test against England in Melbourne, and urged him to go a step further.

"If Connolly is serious, Gregan will not be around much longer," Campese wrote in his Daily Telegraph newspaper column today.

"Take a good look at his performance last week in Sydney. I've heard all this gushing comment about his defence, but, for goodness sake, what about his bread and butter jobs?

"His service in the first half was terrible and he never ran the ball."

Campese and Gregan, the only Wallabies to play 100 tests, have a tense recent history.

In 2003 Gregan parted ways with the management company Campese was part of.

The same year, Campese publicly said the only way Australia would win the World Cup was if coach Eddie Jones axed Gregan.

Today, Campese said comments from English defence coach Mike Ford last week that Gregan was "an east to west player who doesn't cause you many problems" were spot on.

Queensland halfback Sam Cordingley would bring more to the Wallabies than Gregan in the No 9 jersey, Campese said.

"Hopefully he (Cordingley) will grab the opportunity being given to him and lay to rest any doubts that he should be in the No 9 jumper on a more permanent basis.

"As soon as we get rid of Gregan the better. What is he adding to the team?

"He doesn't threaten the opposition, so why persist with him?"

- NZPA