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MONTPELLIER - Sentimentality is not George Gregan's way as he picked up another honour here on Wednesday in the winding down of his stellar international playing career at the rugby World Cup.
The 34-year-old Wallabies' halfback general with the finish line looming will lead his country for the 59th time against Fiji here on Sunday, equalling the international test captaincy record held by England's Will Carling.
The most-capped player in world rugby with 136 tests, Gregan takes over as skipper following Stirling Mortlock's shoulder injury in last Saturday's 32-20 victory over Wales in Cardiff.
But typically, taciturn Gregan didn't make much fuss about his latest singular honour in a game he has graced for 14 seasons.
It was left to his team-mates and coaches to laud Gregan's praises with just weeks left in his Wallaby career before he embarks on a new adventure playing under the coaching of long-time All Black adversary Tana Umaga at French second division side Toulon in November.
"It's a fantastic honour. It's not one of those things you set as a target," Gregan said here on Wednesday.
"I'm not that sentimental. I don't think that way. I have a very important job to do and not just as a captain but by playing well.
"So I go out there making sure that I do that on Sunday, playing well and that's the most important thing you can do when you are captain and that is to lead by your actions on the field and I'm going to do that.
"I know the finish line is ahead so I'm just going to enjoy the moment and do what I have to do to make sure that we keep going forward as a team."
Wallabies' coach John Connolly paid tribute to Gregan on reaching another milestone.
"George will go down as one of the game's greats," Connolly said. "He has a wonderful record in the game and this is another outstanding achievement.
"His experience is invaluable to us and he will be remembered as one of Australia's greatest-ever players."
Matt Giteau, who was used for a time last year as a potential scrum-half replacement for Gregan before reverting back to his customary inside-centre spot, praised Gregan's professionalism.
"George is probably the most professional player that anyone has played with. He's always the first guy to turn up at training and is the last to leave.
"To be around as long as he has, something like over 40 years now (laugh), you need guys to be very professional and that's the type of guy he is."
Flanker Phil Waugh pointed to Gregan's huge self-belief and experience to help the Wallabies at crucial times in matches.
"He's obviously been under a lot of criticism at a number of stages in his career and I think that throughout those times he's always had an enormous amount of belief in his own ability and in the team's ability," Waugh said.
"His experience in leading the team is invaluable to the team.
"Even when he hasn't been captain his experience of being a leader and of being under pressure has helped the team through periods where the team has had pressure on it.
"He prepares the same way whether he's captain or whether he's on the bench, he's always been very professional in his preparation and his contributions to the team off the field are always very valuable.
Defensive coach John Muggleton said Gregan had unique skills for the Wallaby team.
"George, as scrum-halves in general, are the generals of the defensive line. He provides us with leadership and the scanning ability and watch the rucks and monitor that and give the forwards a second pair of eyes.
"He also provides strength in the front line for us, he mixes his game up by being in the line and providing a covering role and he does that very well.
"He has many given roles, probably more than it's fair at times. But your halfback has to do that sort of stuff and that's the responsibility he's got."
- AFP
