‘Great’ Gregan to equal Carling’s captaincy record
Roar Pro
By The Roar, 20 Sep 2007 The Roar is a Roar Pro
Australian Wallabies scrumhalf George Gregan will reach yet another milestone in his extraordinary career this Sunday when the Wallabies clash with Fiji.
With regular skipper Stirling Mortlock unavailable for the match with a shoulder injury, Gregan will captain Australia for the 59th time, equaling the international Test captaincy record currently held by England’s Will Carling.
Wallabies coach John Connolly praised George Gregan as “one of the game’s greats” after handing him the captaincy.
Vice captain Phil Waugh will make his first appearance of the World Cup in the Wallabies starting XV, selected at openside flanker, while 21-year-old sensation Berrick Barnes will again wear the Number 10 jersey.
Adam Ashley-Cooper returns to take the place of Mortlock at outside centre, after missing the Millenium Stadium clash with a toe injury.
The match carries extra significance for two more Wallabies players, for differing reasons.
Centre Matt Giteau will play his 50th Test for Australia, just under five years on from his Test debut against England in 2002.
Wing Lote Tuqiri will play against his former countrymen for the second time in his career and will also celebrate his 28th birthday on Sunday.
AUSTRALIA v FIJI
Rugby World Cup 2007
Pool B Match
Sunday 23 September, 2007
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, FRANCE
Kick off: 2.30pm local (10.30pm AEST)
Australia
1. Matt Dunning
2. Stephen Moore
3. Guy Shepherdson
4. Mark Chisholm
5. Dan Vickerman
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Phil Waugh (vc)
8. Wycliff Palu
9. George Gregan (c)
10. Berrick Barnes
11. Lote Tuqiri
12. Matt Giteau #50
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Drew Mitchell
15. Chris Latham (vc)
16. Adam Freier
17. Greg Holmes
18. Hugh McMeniman
19. Stephen Hoiles
20. Sam Cordingley
21. Scott Staniforth
22. Julian Huxley
Key: #50 = 50th Test Cap
Match notes
* Australia won its lone Test against Fiji in 2007 (49-0 in Perth).
* Australia has not lost to Fiji since 1954 (16-18, SCG, Sydney).
* Australia and Fiji have never met in Rugby World Cup match.
* The countries have played out one drawn Test, 3-all in 1961.
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sheek said | September 20th 2007 @ 10:34am | Report comment
George Gregan……….
Great rugby player.
Average scrumhalf.
Good captain.
Fantastic Wallaby.
Decent human being.
Distrustful of the media.
Divisive towards management (I can relate to that!).
Proud Australian.
Sam Taulelei said | September 20th 2007 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Nice synopsis Sheek and ironically given the player who’s record Gregan will equal, you could insert Wil Carling in his place and make the same comments although Wil’s a proud Englishman.
wilbur said | September 20th 2007 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Yeah Gregan is awesome. I think he’s been a great ambassador for Australia too. Guys like Gregan, Eales, Roff, David Wilson, Matt Burke circa 1998-2004 were all great representatives for Oz. Much better than the likes of Matt Hayden and Stuart MacGill.