Gregan displays bulletproof confidence

Love him or hate him - George Gregan could not care less.

The Wallaby captain would much rather concentrate on winning rugby matches.

Gregan gives the impression that he loves nothing more than a good scrap.

In the dying minutes of Australia's 22-10 World Cup semifinal upset of New Zealand last Saturday, television cameras caught Gregan yelling what looked suspiciously like "Four more years, boys" as the All Blacks' World Cup hopes died.

The smallest man in Australia's side, he is also arguably the most aggressive, always involved and never missing an opportunity to give a referee or an opponent his version of events.

Tomorrow's World Cup final will be Gregan's 95th test.

Yet Australia's captain and most capped halfback still faces constant questions about whether he deserves his place.

Australian media and former Wallabies argued long and hard before and during the World Cup that Gregan's passes were too slow and indirect, his best days were behind him and it was time for long-standing understudy Chris Whitaker to take over.

Even the official World Cup media site notes in its profile of Gregan that he "has shown fluctuating form but is always forthright and assertive in his on-field leadership".

Those criticisms are almost identical to that levelled against Gregan at the 1999 World Cup, but the combative 30-year-old is still in there slugging it out.

According to coach Eddie Jones, Gregan's disdain of criticism and commitment to helping his team win matches are what makes him such a valuable asset.

"One of the features of the team is the leadership of the team. You've got a guy like George ... Praise and criticism to George are water off a duck's back," Jones said on Tuesday. "He's entirely focused on the job at hand. He's played 90-odd tests for Australia and he's not too worried one way or another. I think that's rubbed off on the other team members," he said.

To Gregan, it is all about self-belief within the team, something only members of the team can know.

Asked what characterised that belief and how it was built, Gregan politely but firmly declined to explain: "To be honest, I don't think I have to explain that publicly."

Gregan was born in Zambia and moved to Australia as a toddler with his parents. A gifted athlete, he excelled at cricket and has a single-figure golf handicap.

He played for junior Australian rugby sides before making his senior debut against Italy in Brisbane in 1994, scoring a try on debut. One crystalline moment that year cemented Gregan in the memories of Australian and New Zealand rugby fans.

Gregan hit New Zealand winger Jeff Wilson with a try-saving tackle so hard that it dislodged the ball as Wilson dived for the corner, winning the match for Australia.

A year later Gregan was disappointing at the 1995 World Cup and lost his place in the side as Australia surrendered their title, beaten in the quarterfinals by England.

The ACT Brumbies player fought his way back into the side but was dropped again and secured his place only two years before the 1999 World Cup, where he won the vice-captaincy behind the John Eales.

After all his achievements, as well as the ups and downs, Gregan admits his main motivation now is simply being able to make a contribution to the team.

"I've pretty much achieved everything in rugby. Goal setting is not a real big thing for me. It's more contributing to the team and enjoying my rugby," Gregan said.

After almost 10 years on the international treadmill, Gregan is smart enough to know that Australia's stunning achievement in beating New Zealand in the semifinals will count for nothing and the critics will quickly rise again if they lose to England.

"We haven't achieved anything yet," he said.

- REUTERS

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