Inspirational Gregan likely to be a sideline presence

By CHRIS RATTUE

George Gregan's absence has left the Wallabies with a captaincy quandary for Saturday's Tri-Nations test in Wellington.

Novice captains Stephen Larkham or Nathan Sharpe will lead the Wallabies after Gregan was ruled out of what would have been his 100th test.

Gregan, who raises the blood temperature among All Black fans, will travel with the Wallabies, who name their line-up tomorrow and arrive on Thursday. He is a likely sideline coach during the test.


He has not missed a Bledisloe Cup game for eight years, but was expected to be out for a month after the illegal tackle by Pacific Islander Seilala Mapusua in Adelaide.

Gregan's initial recovery went well, but he said: "My bread and butter is passing and it is affecting my ability to do that."


He will be sorely missed, although the classy Chris Whitaker will step up. Mat Henjak is the bench candidate, although Matt Giteau was halfback cover against the Islanders.

Whitaker has had just three starts - against Tonga, the United States and Namibia - and been a reserve in 40-plus tests, often not making it on to the field.

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones will promote one of his vice-captains - Larkham or Sharpe - even though Matt Burke, Stirling Mortlock and Whitaker have more leadership experience.

Larkham has not captained his country in a 69-test career, and it was Mortlock who took over from Gregan at the Brumbies. Larkham is regarded by many as best left to his own devices.

The 24-test Sharpe is a character in the mould of John Eales, a fellow Queenslander, and could be the surprise choice.

Jones said : "It's a very difficult decision ... Stephen Larkham has a lot on his plate. Nathan Sharpe is getting better with every test match."

Another big decision for Jones is whether Chris Latham or Burke replaces injured fullback and goalkicker Joe Roff.

Latham, with better form, has a chequered history with the Wallaby coach. And if Latham plays, the novice Giteau will be the goalkicker by default.

Giteau, a club goalkicker, has had just a handful of shots for the Brumbies in two seasons. In stark contrast, unwanted Waratah Burke has kicked more than 700 points in over a decade of tests.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Rugby Union assistant chief executive Steve Tew said Pacific Islands rugby would receive up to $400,000 - all the profits - from their Albany test against the All Blacks.

NZRFU officials are frustrated at criticism in some quarters over their treatment of Pacific Islands rugby. Tew said the union's first obligation was to look after New Zealand, which faced enough problems.

But the NZRFU was pushing the IRB to giving the Islands better representation and allowing dual-eligibility players who had finished with tier-one test teams to be available for them, and had promoted the Islanders concept.

Tew said it was up to the Pacific Islands to evaluate the combined team's future, then present proposals to rugby bosses.