By CHRIS RATTUE
George Gregan's first lesson in controlling a rugby game came at school.
His "teacher" at St Edmund's College in Canberra was Ricky Stuart, a star schoolboy union player who was to forge a great league career with the Raiders.
Gregan describes Stuart's work in the school's first XV as "a master class in how to run a game."
It is ironic that Stuart, now the Sydney City coach, had such an influence. He became something of a union-type half excelling in league, with sweeping passes and long tactical kicking.
By contrast, Gregan resembles league's dummy half, who also wears No 9.
Like the best acting halves, Gregan expertly clears the ball from tangled body parts at ruck after ruck, and holds the ball more than any other player.
In a code which has copied aspects of league, Gregan can also look like Allan Langer as he runs the ball to the line before handing responsibility to bigger comrades.
Those big forwards can be used as decoys, but as Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said about Langer, master halfbacks are not employed to make hit-ups.
Gregan is the controller, the oil between the wheels, not an enforcer like his best Brumbies mate Owen Finegan.
Gregan is also a master cover defender. And he is a defender in rugby law as he debates often and hard with referees, although he turned mute in the semifinal against the Waratahs in a tactic the Brumbies codenamed Stingray, as in silent and deadly.
Gregan was so quiet that referee Paddy O'Brien asked: "Has George got laryngitis?"
His former Brumbies and now Australian coach Eddie Jones has also questioned Gregan's lip, saying: "There's no doubt George has sometimes overstepped the mark."
It is hard to believe that Gregan will provide a silent night in Christchurch, if the Crusaders are on top and referee Andre Watson is in eccentric mode.
But whatever his mood or the flow of the game, Gregan the player usually shines.
In three dramatic tests against the Lions last year, the boffins calculated he held the ball 453 times with just four passing errors, and missed one of 33 tackles.
Since he turned up in internationals in 1994 and jolted the ball from Jeff Wilson to win a Wednesday night test against the All Blacks in Sydney, he has built a 72-test reputation as the best halfback - maybe player - in the game.
Australian players voted him their best last year. His dark features and shiny top have always leant an exotic touch and air of mystery to his peerless play.
Gregan's father is Australian and his mother is from Zambia, where Gregan was born before moving to Australia with his family when a tot.
He was a fine youth cricketer, but scored poorly at the Australian under-19s.
Rugby made its move, including him in the Australian sevens and providing an Institute of Sport scholarship.
The 29-year-old's contracts end after next year's World Cup and the Brumbies admit to planning life without him. Money should not be an overwhelming factor when he makes retirement decisions.
Gregan has prospered through sponsorship deals with Jaguar, Qantas, Canterbury, Citibank and Mizuno.
Wife Erica (they have one son and another child on the way) is the force behind four cafes called By George in Sydney where they live.
Gregan already has a place in rugby history, as a World Cup and Super 12-winning halfback.
If he leads his underdogs to victory tonight, the legend will grow.
But what would secure his place among the greats would be leading Australia to World Cup victory on home soil.
Then it might be time to relax, and smell the coffee.
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