Rugby World Cup 2007 - Prepare Yourself.

THE world's most capped player, George Gregan, is set to end his 14-year Wallabies career in glory by regaining the Test captaincy for this year's World Cup tournament.

Although no official announcement will be made until late next month when the 30-man squad is announced, several high-ranking Australian Rugby Union sources told the Herald last night that Gregan was the "raging hot favourite" to be Australia's World Cup captain for the second time.

This is despite the 34-year-old being overlooked for the captaincy this season, with it being shared between co-captains Stirling Mortlock and Phil Waugh.
However, that decision was partly due to Gregan not being an automatic selection in the Test team at the start of the international season.


For the two-Test series against Wales in Sydney and Brisbane, Gregan played off the bench behind Matt Giteau.
Gregan regained his starting XV spot against Fiji in Perth.

However, the return of the old midfield combination against South Africa, and now New Zealand, of Gregan at halfback inside Stephen Larkham, Giteau and Mortlock, has prompted the push for Gregan to be offered back the captaincy, which he had held from 2001 until late last year, when he opted out of the end-of-season Wallabies tour of Europe.

A vast improvement in form this season, both during the Super 14 and the Test matches, has again made Gregan, who has 131 Test caps, a first-choice selection.

Wallabies coach John Connolly refused to comment on the captaincy issue...But it is known the Australian selection panel has been deeply impressed with how Gregan handled the decision earlier this season that he would not be skipper during the domestic series. He immediately accepted it and helped all those around him, including previous understudies.

Even when not skipper, Gregan holds a certain aura within the Wallabies. Team management and players say he remains the most obvious leader.

Gregan's proposed elevation is also not seen as a slap in the face for Mortlock or Waugh. Wallabies management have been happy with both players' input this season, knowing that they now have enough experience to take over the captaincy on a permanent basis when Gregan departs after the World Cup to play in France.