Tomorrow's clash between the Brumbies and Crusaders in Canberra may lower the curtain on perhaps the most prolonged individual rivalry in professional rugby.
There would be few more enduring struggles than that between Brumbies halfback George Gregan and Crusaders flanker Reuben Thorne, dating back a decade.
Gregan, the
world record-holder for test caps with 127 and who will become the first player to notch 135 Super matches tomorrow, is one of the few current players to outstrip Thorne for experience.
The former Crusaders skipper has clocked up 118 Super games and 45 tests.
The pair were rival test captains five times, most famously the last one, when Gregan's Wallabies toppled the All Blacks in the 2003 World Cup semifinal. Gregan's career at the Brumbies will be honoured at Canberra Stadium with he and teammates Stephen Larkham and Jeremy Paul all set to play their final home game.
Thorne said it would make the trip to the Australian capital an even greater challenge than usual for the six-time champions.
"There's going to be a lot of emotion, particularly in the crowd," Thorne said. "The Brumbies will feed off that so certainly it's going to make it difficult for us.
Thorne and Gregan could yet clash again this year if the New Zealander can force test selection.
The durable Thorne was a fringe member of Graham Henry's 2006 All Blacks squad, playing four tests.
This will be Gregan's final year with the Wallabies and he shapes as their logical first-choice halfback for a 14th season.
Thorne said his focus remained on the Crusaders' impressive campaign, with victory at Canberra ensuring a home semifinal and probably extinguishing Brumbies' title hopes. "It's about making sure momentum is building," Thorne said.
Given the escalating number of experienced players leaving for overseas, it seems unlikely rugby will throw up many more rivalries on the Thorne-Gregan scale.
Thorne didn't begrudge those leaving, including Crusaders teammate Chris Jack, who has signed to play with Saracens after the World Cup. It had been a pretty intense environment in the All Blacks over the past few years.
"Some of those guys have played 40-50 tests and are ready for a break and looking to get something different in their life.
It provides them with challenges but also a mental break from it."
- NZPA
