Critics give Wallabies the hint that it's time to fire big guns

George Gregan's long service isn't saving him from criticism. Picture / Getty Images

SYDNEY - The poor form of three influential Wallabies - George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and George Smith - is under the microscope as coach John Connolly tries to create a rugby team to upset the All Blacks on August 19.

In surely the biggest outcry after a victory in Tri-Nations history, the Wallabies were panned by the Australian media for their performance in Saturday's 20-18 win over the Springboks here.

The words inept, hapless and appalling were used.

Gregan's form, closely followed by that of Larkham and Smith, was the focus as pressure mounts on Connolly to make changes for the Auckland test.

Hooker Tai McIsaac and lock Nathan Sharpe are reportedly the two most under threat, from Jeremy Paul and Mark Chisholm, after the Wallabies' scrum and lineout woes.

But calls for Gregan's sacking are reaching the levels they were at after last year's disastrous tour of Europe, despite the veteran halfback breaking John Eales' Australian record of 55 tests as captain on Saturday.

Sydney Morning Herald rugby writer Greg Growden, one of the Wallabies' and Gregan's strongest critics, was blunt in his column yesterday.

"Forget what all of George Gregan's lickspittle mates in the print and broadcast media are gibbering on about, and do what [previous coach] Eddie Jones was going to do this year if he hung around long enough - get rid of the skipper."

One problem with this is that Gregan's replacement, Sam Cordingley, on Saturday aggravated a foot injury that had previously sidelined him for 12 weeks. Scans this week will determine the extent of the injury.

Next in the queue is impressive Waratahs rookie Josh Holmes. He is widely tipped to be the Wallabies' No 9 at next year's World Cup but is not yet ready to start in a high-pressure test against the All Blacks.

Smith appears most likely of the big three to be axed for the Auckland test, if only because his spark and effectiveness at the breakdown appear to have dimmed under weight of constant top-level matches.

Tellingly, the man widely regarded as the world's second-best No 7, after Richie McCaw, was substituted by Phil Waugh in the 53rd minute on Saturday.

The Wallabies' match-winning try with five minutes remaining summed it up - an ever-alert Cordingley slapped a loose ball to Waugh who dashed 20m, then found another replacement, Mat Rogers, who raced 30m to the line unchallenged.

The three big guns were all sitting in the grandstand.

Rogers replaced Larkham in the final 10 minutes, after the Wallabies' pivot struggled for a second consecutive match to direct play and spark the backline.

That may be due to a forward pack going backwards and his service from Gregan, but the Wallabies' selectors would still be concerned at his drop in form even if no replacement stands out.

Connolly was realistic in describing Saturday as the Wallabies' worst performance in seven tests this year.

But he attributed the flatness to a bruising 9-13 loss to the All Blacks a week earlier, and insisted the ship could be steadied with a recuperation break this week.

"We're still in it and the game in Auckland in two weeks is an incredibly important game for us," he said.

"The All Blacks have got to play two games at altitude, and we play the Springboks on the tail end. They've got three games in three weeks and it will be tough for them.

"For us, Auckland is everything to play for."

- NZPA