It was Chris Whitaker who gave us one of the better quotes of recent times. When asked in February 2006 who the new Wallaby coach would be, he quipped: “I suppose Steven Bradbury. He’s the only one left standing and you’d have to assume he’ll get it.”
Whitaker was referring to John Connolly in the wake of Ewen McKenzie and David Nucifora withdrawing from consideration.
The irony of this statement is that Whitaker himself spent the best part of a decade waiting for George Gregan to fall over, but it never happened, because the iron-willed little general was far too clever to offer his understudy even a sniff at the top job.
This presumably is why Whitaker’s nickname, according to Wikipedia, is “Anthem”: singing it is as much as he was ever allowed to do in “playing” for Australia.
Events in Europe in recent months raise the issue of whether Whitaker should be given further opportunities to blow his lungs singing “Advance Australia Fair”.
I refer here to Leinster’s Heineken Cup success. According to many reports, Whitaker’s masterful direction of play was a major contributing factor in this triumph.
Of course Rocky Elsom is drawing plaudits all around the rugby world for his back-to-back man-of-the-match performances in Leinster’s stunning accomplishment. These have Australian rugby fans positively clamoring for Elsom’s return to the gold Wallaby jersey.
But what’s good for the goose should also be good for the gander: if Elsom’s play for Leinster warrants him immediately returning to the Australian fold, then doesn’t it follow that Whitaker’s form for Leinster should also count in terms of Wallaby selection?
At this point I need to declare that I am raising this issue more as a point of logic than one based on intimate observation of Whitaker’s form.
In total I would have watched less than 5 minutes of the entire Heineken Cup competition (but gee, Whitaker looked pretty sharp in those 5 minutes!). So if all you HC experts want to tell me that Whitaker’s form sucked, then please, you are welcome to do so (politely!).
For now, let me assume that Whitaker’s form was good.
That being the case I would firstly note that he never received an extended opportunity in the Australian jumper, so how do we know how good he really is?
Secondly I would note that Australian rugby still has no solution at half-back. Yes, Luke Burgess can do special things, but he does so irregularly, and at other times he does not exactly inspire total confidence – and that is being polite.
The other current Wallaby-squad half-back is Josh Valentine. Admittedly he’s had a good season for the Force, but playing inside Matt Giteau is rather a luxury that many half-backs would die for. (It rather recalls the words of Barry John to a nervous Gareth Edwards on his Welsh debut: “Just throw it anywhere lad, and I’ll catch it.”)
Indeed, one has to wonder if Whitaker’s service might really add to Giteau’s already world-class game.
Thirdly, there is the issue of Whitaker’s age: 34.
No disputing it, this is getting on. However, one could point out that this is the age at which Fabien Galthié masterminded France’s 2003 World Cup campaign, at which point in time many considered him the best half-back in the world.
So these are just some points in favour of Whitaker’s consideration.
Above and beyond this are some broader issues that are raised: if European form can earn one player (Elsom) selection in the Wallabies, then shouldn’t all Australians playing in Europe have this path open to them?
And I fully realise that under current ARU regulations Whitaker is not eligible for Wallaby selection, because he is not contracted to an Australian Super-14 franchise (let’s ignore this complication in discussing whether his form is good enough).
But should the ARU’s rules be changed in this regard?
Derm
Roar Guru
Glad you liked it, OME. It's a funny but useful metaphor for advising people about how to conduct/chair debates or meetings.
OldManEmu
Guest
Pothale - that was veryfunny.
fred
Guest
maybe talking about whitaker is like watching paint dry and gregan pathetic as it was in his later years at least has his supporters and detractors,neither set me alight as devastating halfbacks who threatened the defence or had a kicking game or great defensively;apart from that they were shithot
One Wise man
Guest
I really take offence at being called racist. I couldn't care if George was gay, muslim, catholic, prody, blue, green, short, tall, from Canberra or Qld. In fact the most descriminated against people in Australia are white, single, middle to upper middle income earners who are simply not allowed to whinge. Who cares what he is? The fact is the ARU would not have picked George had Steve Merrick decided to keep playing. Steve Merrick was offered the most money of any rookie in 1995 to continue playing. Had Steve played for just two more years Chris Whittaker would have been on an even playing field with George and more than likely would have become the half who played 100 plus tests. George was just the guy in the right place at the right time and had the experience and the ear of coaches when the competition came along.
Derm
Roar Guru
But, but....you're not allowed go with the tide - you're meant to facilitate the debate and get us vaguely back on track before we all go meandering around the place. Think of it like herding cows up the road to the milking parlour - there's always a few of them who wander off into a field to have a chat and chew the cud, another few stare over the hedge at nothing in particular whilst others start wandering back to where they started. Get out the big stick and move us along instead of joining us in the field! :)
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
Yes, pothale, it did start off being about Whitaker. But since so many comments ended up being about Gregan, I thought I'd go with the tide and make a comment on the comments, which was basically to wonder: why is Gregan such an unending and divisive and inescpable topic of discussion? As you say, "Am curious why the focus has shifted to Gregan" - me too!
Derm
Roar Guru
I thought the topic was about Whitaker, Greg? Am curious why the focus has shifted to Gregan, including yourself. Have people simply abandoned your notion of using Whitaker - who's been selected to play for Baa-Baas against England and Australia?
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
If I can be permitted a comment on the comments, it would be that this one (by edgo) seems the best summary: "I find it amazing that a discussion about the merit of O/S players returning to Oz and eligibility for wallaby selection becomes a gregan bashing forum." Rather than giving my thoughts on George the Great, for now I am more inclined to ponder this: why does he polarize the Australian rugby community so? If I were to select a closest equivalent to Gregan in Australian cricket, it would be Steve Waugh. Think about it and you will realise that there are so many similarities (including that Steve got to play on for several years past his use-by date). We all know that what Steve really said to Herschelle Gibbs in 1999 was "Four more years, boys!", while what Gregan really said to Kellaher in 2003 was "You just dropped the World Cup". Get my point? Anyway, this is really my point: why is it that Gregan polarizes the Australian rugby community, but Steve Waugh never polarized the Australian public? I have chosen my group nouns here carefully. I suspect the reaction on Gregan is as much a commentary on the Australian rugby community as it is on the man himself.
OldManEmu
Guest
I have long been an advocate of Gregan - he was an outstanding but not perfect player, nuff said. I seriously doubt whtehr racsim has anything to do with his bagging. Two of the more popular Wallbies of recent times have been T Kefu and G Smith.
Brett McKay
Guest
Pablo, I wouldn't say I paid attention to Growden per se, it was more a glance before lighting the fire!! Funnily enough, I got so annoyed by Peter Jenkins' constant barrow pushing of his favourites that I switched to the SMH, whereupon I had to endure Growden!! If only The Roar was around back then... Stillmissit, the standing stationary at the back of the ruck refereeing instead of passing was a definite problem of Gregan's, and I admit that got worse in his last few years. Although, even that wasn't so bad once Mortlock took over the captaincy. As for timing, well I only just said to a mate today that Whitaker was to Gregan what Stewie MacGill was to Warnie. Both very, very good players, who just happened to be born of similar times..
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
That darting run from the back of the ruck has definitely come back in with Burgo, and was sadly missing from Gregan's game towards the end. it causes the players around the ruck to be far more cautious and look out for it, rather than simply looking for where the next ruck is in due course, thus opening the defence up slightly. Sheehan doesn't do it as much as Burgo, but every half back tends to have their own style and reportiore. the issue is finding the one with it all - running, kicking passing. Stating the bleeding obvious I know.
retiredrucker
Guest
Gregan was a champion player and great servant of Aust Rugby but his last 3 years where Gregan serving himself and reaching for milestones. Even old retired second rowers could see the drop in his preformance! Now I don't know that if any of us had been in his shoe's whether we would of put our hand up like Eales did and retire gracefully. The call needed to come from coach/management and this is where i believe longserving champions end up with too much sway and influence. This is a natural human fallacy that exists in many parts of our society, MATES. An aside, I always blew my stack at the tele every time gregan lost a ball at the back of the ruck because he was to busy mouthing the ref or waiting eons to make a pass, this happened to him frequently from my poor memory. The Pack would have been slowly losing respect for him when he frittered away hard won ball.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
I agree about the pass to some extent, although I think his natural pass was better than Burgess, it was the lack of speed that pissed me off. When we seemed to be on attack and our backs going forwards, it would all stop while Gregan farted around at the back of a ruck, instructing referee's and forwards about what was wrong and how he wanted it, that gave the oppostiion a lifetime to get their defence organised. Thank Christ he's gone. Maybe we can get back to fast backs and fast forwards which is what suits Australia.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Matta - I understand what you are saying and my timelines are out. How can a decade of poor rugby start in 2001? Still the whole time until Deans arrived felt like a lifetime to me. I cant begin to express how great it felt to put the AB's to the sword in the 2003 RWC but that was pretty well it for me. The other wins were left overs from McQueens time and from 2002 were gradually becoming more distant as Tricky Eddie refused to give anyone else more than 5 mins time on the field so that he could claim he was introducing new players. Whitaker was a victim of this time and Gregan was the amazing beneficiary of it. Larkham was the victim of it and the likes of Vickerman, George Smith, David Lyons, Brendon Cannon, Jeremy Paul, Phil Waugh (to a lesser extent) and later Elsom did the grunt work that kept us in touch with the top teams.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Brett, I think you are probably right, the pass was a big part of the problem, not necessarily the crabbing. You paid attention to what growden said? Shame on you! The problem is that many of the other current half backs have the same problem. For example, Burgess was doing the same thing, with Harbour Bridge, low and high passes at times. When he played well it was usually in the breadbasket. However, I also recall I think in the Blues game their half back doing the same (where Burgo had a decent game before going off), and thinking "Thank God it's not just Burgo or the Aussies!!".
Brett McKay
Guest
Pablo, you've hit on my exact point, in saying "it’s that others did it and still gave good service" - which means that Gregan's pass was the problem, but yet this was never really the main point of criticsm. As Arthur touched on above, it was was both hilarious and frustrating to have commentators and writers (Growden and Jenkins particulalry) endlessly criticising Gregan's "Canadian two-step" as they sometimes called it, yet they never spoke of Whitaker or Cordingley doing the same thing. People used to talk about Larkham being constantly belted as a result of Gregan passes (which often was the case), yet I lost count of the number of times Larkham had to take Patrick Phibbs passes on the half-volley. Phibbs still has the same problem now. Your second sentence, "Of course, that raises the issue of whether that service was still poor even if it looked the same, or whether there was some other issue", which I sort of agree with after being initially confused, just reinforces my conclusion, that the criticism is based on personal prejudices in the first instance (which is fine, everyone's allowed to have an opinion), and loosely based on actual events as an occasional follow-up.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Brett, It's not that Gregan isn't the only one doing it, it's that others did it and still gave good service. Of course, that raises the issue of whether that service was still poor even if it looked the same, or whether there was some other issue. from memory, when Gregan played better he reduced that part of his play, meaning people blamed it.
matta
Guest
poorly written by me but you get the idea
matta
Guest
Stillamiss - I agree with some of you points but your time lines are a little out. GG - retired from test footy in 2007. McGueen pulled the pin in 2001 meaning Eddy didnt coach the Wallabies until 2001/2. We won the Tri-Nations in 2001, the Brumbies made the 01,02 and 04 Super 12 finals (winning twice) and the national side made the WC final in 03. Sure our form wasnt the best over the 02 test season but we still made it to the final.... What I am saying is GG's form didnt really slip until 04...bad patchs in 02 and 03 prior to WC but you're righting off his whole career over that. A career that saw him win 6 Beldisloe Cups, 1 RWC (contest 2 finals), two tri-nations cups, 2 super 12 titles, controlled the game during perhaps the greatest test and provincial rugby games of all time while notching up over 100 caps... Sure he probably shouldnt have owned the starting spot 2004 onward...but jesus, he must be the most successful half back of all time.
Brett McKay
Guest
stillmissit, it's not just the Brumbies though, as Arthur said every scrumhalf does it, and not just Australian 9s. Fourie du Preez is arguably is the best scrumhalf in the world currently, and certainly has one of the best passes in either of the rugby codes, but even he takes the extra step when he needs to. This is what prompted my original question, and I can only conclude judging by the responses (or lack thereof) is that it's simply an anti-Gregan thing..