Aussie media round on Jones, Gregan

SYDNEY - It's time for Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to drop captain George Gregan - and it's time for the Australian Rugby Union to drop Jones.

They were just two of the calls yesterday in the aftermath of the Wallabies' dismal performance in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test, won 30-13 by the All Blacks.

In the Sydney Morning Herald, chief rugby writer Greg Growden said it was time for Jones to make the most difficult decision of his four years as national coach - drop Gregan.

Growden said Gregan had been placed in an untouchable position by Jones and allowed to get away with substandard performances because of the aura of captaincy.

"For too long Gregan has been in cruise control, with opponents often knowing exactly what he is going to do in a test," Growden wrote.

"He hardly ever attacks the advantage line, he is tap-dancing more and more across field, the amount of time it takes from picking up the ball to offloading is getting longer, and his kicks over the top are becoming less effective."

Growden said youngster Matt Henjak - sent home from the Wallabies' South Africa tour after a nightclub incident - should replace Gregan.

In the Daily Telegraph, Jones said Gregan would be spared the axe for the Springboks match.

"At this stage he will be a definite selection. But, as we've said all along, he's like anyone, he's assessable by form."

In the Australian newspaper, rugby editor Wayne Smith said replacement Chris Whitaker's sharper passing from the ruck was noticeable late in Saturday's match.

He said the Gregan "package" was shrinking, but the Wallaby captain deserved a share of the world record 112 test caps. He is two short of that.

Smith suggested that Jones take a leaf out of All Blacks' coach Graham Henry's book and leave Gregan at home for the Wallabies' spring tour in the Northern Hemisphere, as Henry did with Justin Marshall last year.

"That doesn't preclude Gregan being selected against next year if it is obvious his total package is still the best. But nor does it lock the Wallabies into a captaincy option that has run its course."

ARU managing director Gary Flowers said yesterday that Jones' position was in no danger, adding that despite three test losses, now was "not the time to panic".

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that several high-ranking officials were privately questioning Jones' recent performance.

"NSW coach Ewen McKenzie, a former assistant to Jones at the Brumbies and the Wallabies, is being pushed by some officials as the man to take over the national position if the three-test losing streak continues during the final two rounds of the Tri-Nations," said Growden.

He said Flowers' comments would be encouraging for Jones, but the patience of other ARU powerbrokers would be tested if the Wallabies lost to the Springboks at Perth on Saturday and the All Blacks at Auckland on September 3.

In the Telegraph, chief rugby writer Peter Jenkins said the ARU had one option and that was to give Jones an iron-clad guarantee he will be Wallabies coach until the end of the 2007 World Cup.

"There is no other way this floundering Australian team can be improved through selection gambles before the 2007 showpiece."

- NZPA