Gregan’s barb still cuts deep
5 Jul 2006
George Gregan’s famous taunt is still hurting the All Blacks three years after their World Cup failure.
“Four more years.” That’s what the Wallaby captain told the shattered New Zealanders when his side had all but won the 2003 World Cup semi-final in Sydney.
Richie McCaw recently admitted it was the most amazing and infuriating comment he had heard on a rugby field because “there was nothing we could say back”.
Gregan’s opposite number on Saturday, Byron Kelleher, says he would never have said something similar had the Wallabies been heading out of the World Cup. He also insists that he doesn’t retaliate with chirps of his own.
“If you get carried away with banter on the field, it can distract you from your game,” he told Sydney Morning Herald writer Greg Growden. “It was obviously a comment he [Gregan] thought was appropriate at the time. Still, George is pretty vocal on the field, and I’m not, so hopefully my actions speak louder than words. I’m really not too much of a sledger.”
Kelleher admitted the two had a fierce rivalry on the field.
“It started in the Brumbies-Highlanders game in 2001, which we won, and it carried on through to the Bledisloe Cup. It started tactically with me putting pressure on Gregan to distribute the ball to the first five-eighth. Fortunately enough, we were able to get on top of that.
“He [Gregan] doesn’t enjoy confrontation too much,” Kelleher added. “He definitely prefers the tactical game. But he is still not shy of the tackle. He’s a talented athlete and I do look forward to playing against him. He works off the talented players around him and puts them into space. I suppose you can call it an ‘east-west’ game, but it works for him.”
56 Comments
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6 Jul 2006, 11:32 am
Maybe thats how you beat the AB’s call them names and chirp the precious little buggars. FFS guys you are All Blacks, nothing Gregan says should have any effect on you. AB’s of the past would be either choking on their pints or turning in their graves.
6 Jul 2006, 11:37 am
DEE DAH
I doubt the jibe even gets a mention during team discussions.
keo just needed a topic to put on his board
6 Jul 2006, 12:24 pm
Dee Dah: the chirp was at the end of the game. Only a fool would make a comment like that to an AB at the start.
Stan: the Gregan of old was better than Kelleher will ever be, no doubt about it. Current worth as of next Saturday is less flattering.
Personally, I could not pick between Weepu and Kelleher in terms of how they have looked this year. So I would go for Kelleher because halfbacks (like fetchers) rely on their pack to make them look good. Byron had a solid season behind a pretty average Chiefs outfit , so is not going to be put off if he starts to get sloppy ball.
And before you say that I am biaised, not that Kelleher is an Otago player in my eyes, not a Mooloo boy at all.
6 Jul 2006, 12:25 pm
Sorry: NOTE that Kelleher is an Otago player in my eyes
7 Jul 2006, 11:24 am
Gregan is the best scrumhalf of the modern era,does what a scrumhalf is expected to do.Decision making,passing from base,cover defence(rememba Wilson & Lomu tackles?)and leads by example so what if he chirps here and there.He has earned it,he is a world champion(99′) and most capped player in the history of the game…
Kelleher is a work horse but nuthin more
7 Jul 2006, 16:48 pm
Most capped player in the 100-and-something-year history of the game. Speaks for itself. Very gifted in the tactical and intelligence stakes. Never gives up and he is worth more to the Aussies than a man twice his size.
S.A. players are short of tactical awareness and rugby insight. We lag so much behind.
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