SYDNEY - In one of the least surprising sniping moves of the World Cup, former Wallabies wing David Campese has joined the defending champions' growing band of detractors.
Campese says he was the first to point out the Wallabies needed significant personnel changes to retain the Webb Ellis Cup.
Criticism has intensifiedafter Australia's unconvincing 17-16 win over Ireland to win pool A and set up a quarter-final meeting with Scotland in Brisbane on Saturday.
World Cup-winning pair Nick Farr-Jones and coach Bob Dwyer have said it was time for halfback and skipper George Gregan to make way for long-serving understudy Chris Whitaker.
Farr-Jones, who led Australia to the 1991 title, on Monday said Gregan's form was waning and he didn't offer the Wallabies the attacking options needed to advance through to the final.
Gregan has been under attack all year, with critics panning his slow delivery from set pieces and reluctance to run with the ball.
Campese weighed into Gregan yesterday, saying Whitaker needed to be given a chance to ignite the backline, and the captaincy passed to lock David Giffin.
"I've suggested Whitaker be given a crack at halfback, I expressed reservations about Stephen Larkham at five-eighth. Everyone knows I've never had a huge rap on Wendell Sailor," Campese wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
Campese said he had been "ridiculed" for those views. "People have accused me of grabbing headlines at the expense of reality. Now suddenly the bandwagon has a few more passengers on board."
Campese advocates Chris Latham return to fullback for Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Stirling Mortlock replace Sailor and Joe Roff on the wings, Morgan Turinui would play centre while Matt Giteau is pivot ahead of Larkham. Only Elton Flatley survives.
