Gregan receives vote of confidence

George Gregan

LONDON - Wallaby rugby captain George Gregan received a vote of confidence from the Australian management today after his team slumped to a sixth consecutive defeat in Marseille at the weekend.

During an evening of mixed emotions, Gregan led his team on to the field to win a world record 115th cap but was then forced to spend the match on the back foot as France recorded a 26-16 win in one of their more intimidating citadels.

Gregan, 32, has been under increasing pressure this year from the Australian media who have now called for wholesale changes before their team meet world champions England at Twickenham this weekend.

Another loss would equal the previous losing streak of seven successive defeats recorded by the Wallabies in 1968-9 when they were not considered a major rugby union power.

Australia assistant coach Alan Gaffney, formerly the head coach at Irish club Munster, told reporters at the team's London headquarters that Gregan had the whole-hearted support of his squad.

"George is an outstanding person and an outstanding leader," he said. "We haven't got the results, there's no hiding from that. I do believe that George will make a decision in his own time.

"George will make the decision, I'm sure. I don't think that it will have to be made for him. He will know when it's time.

"He has had an outstanding career and I think he will finish it off in the correct way."

But Gaffney also stressed that no player would be granted special treatment at a transitional stage for Australian rugby.

Australia are the only side to win the World Cup twice and they also reached the final two years ago in Sydney, losing in extra time through Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal.

"George is in the selection process like everyone else," he said. "He will have to compete for his position."

Unlike the New Zealand All Blacks, Australia also intend to play their best available starting lineup in each of their remaining tests against England, Ireland and Six Nations champions Wales.

"This is not a development tour, we have come here to win games," Gaffney said. "A lot of blokes won't get a start."

Gaffney said both Gregan and his first five-eighths had been placed under extra pressure because the tight five forwards had struggled in this year's tests against New Zealand, Australia and France.

"When you are under the cosh up front it's not an easy job for a number nine or an easy job for a 10," he said.

Wallaby loose forward George Smith said he had been unaware that Australia were one game away from sharing an unwelcome record.

"It won't prey on our minds," he said. "Morale is good."

Smith said the Wallabies did not feel under any special pressure after their world champion cricket side lost the Ashes to England this year.

"It kept cricket alive," he said. "The Ashes were going down."

- REUTERS