Coach John Connolly is set to reunite the old firm of George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Matt Giteau for the second test against Wales after grimacing his way through Australia's dysfunctional start to the international season.
In his own words, Connolly was "keeping bat and pad close together"
yesterday, cautious against revealing too much, but he admitted the selectors were looking to solidify the midfield after the Wallabies escaped with a desperate victory.
Time is running out for Connolly to decide on his first-choice backline alignment for this year's World Cup.
That is why he is leaning towards reverting to the trusted trio of Gregan, Larkham and Giteau as his all-important 9-10-12 axis after the greenhorn formation of Giteau, Sam Norton-Knight and Adam Ashley-Cooper failed to gel against Wales.
It would not have been lost on the Wallabies brains trust that Gregan - for so long maligned in Australia despite being widely considered the game's premier halfback in other countries - was given a rousing reception when thrust into the fray with the home team trailing with 15 minutes remaining.
"George is a great player and a very important member of our squad," Connolly said. "He clears the ball from the breakdown very quickly and comparing what George offers and what Matt Giteau offers you're not comparing apples with apples.
"They're two entirely different types of players. [Gregan] always will be important and will be all the way through to the World Cup.
Larkham would be "pencilled in" to return for the Brisbane test and that Gregan would start either on Saturday or against Fiji in Perth the following week with Giteau back in the midfield with Stirling Mortlock.
-AAP
