Wallabies legend George Gregan is expecting “fine margins” to decide England’s test series against Australia.
The two sides begin their three-test series in Perth on Saturday (10:55am UK time) with the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France looming in the distance. England are coming off the back of a disappointing Six Nations campaign which has led to some pressure mounting on head coach Eddie Jones.
Australia enter the series with plenty of optimism and boosted by the news they will host the Rugby World Cup Down Under in 2027. And Gregan - part of the side beaten by England in the 2003 World Cup final - expects a tight but entertaining affair.
“It’s going to be a really good series,” Gregan says, supporting The 150th Open Championship Claret Jug Tour, in partnership with HSBC UK. “It’s really highly anticipated back home in Australia. Three big test matches, starting in Perth then Brisbane down to Sydney.
“The Sydney game at the SCG is a bit of a throwback, and I think it’s the fill-up rugby needed in our country. We’ve had the great news of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the Women’s World Cup in 2029. With the Lions coming in 2025 and this tour now, it’s big for the sport in Australia.
“A little bit of momentum has come back and fair play to Dave Rennie, Michael Hooper, the coaching group and that squad.They had a good season last year, obviously the end of season tour the results weren’t what they wanted but in the Rugby Championship I saw some real growth in the way they played.
“I guess the buzzword is consistency. Dave Rennie is no different to Eddie Jones with his team, he’ll just want consistency in their performance and how they’re preparing. To get the results you want in these high level games, the margins are very, very small and I think it’ll be pretty tight.
“2016 [when England won 3-0 in Australia] was pretty tight in terms of the margins across the three test matches, there weren’t really any blow-outs, it just came down to big moments and I think it’ll be no different in this series.
“Conditions should be really good, there should be some entertaining rugby but ultimately you want to be on the winning side of the ledger which I think both squads will be keen to do.
“There’s a bit of an unknown going into the first game, then you’ll get a sense of what you need to work on heading into what could be a deciding game, or a game you need to win to stay alive in test two.”
Gregan was a key player under Eddie Jones when he was Australia boss from 2001 to 2005 and believes his former coach is working hard to juggle youth and experience in his squad. He sees similarities in the way Jones and Australia counterpart Dave Rennie have maintained a focus on their World Cup end goal.
Gregan said: “I think a lot of international teams, Eddie’s no different with England, have developed a lot of players since the last World Cup
“You’ve seen it with France with Fabien Galthie, how he’s developed his squad since the last World Cup and a lot of those players are the nucleus of a young team that’s got a lot of experience.
“They’ve won the Six Nations and brought this really good habit of winning and playing well in tight matches. You need to expose your players to give them those experiences, otherwise they never get them, and test match rugby is hard, the margins for error are very small.
“You can be not too far away but it doesn’t look like that on the scoreboard, and fans get frustrated by that. There’s a sense of needing to focus on the here and now but also have an eye where you’re going in the next period of time and I think Eddie’s like that.
“Dave Rennie’s been like that, he’s blooded a lot of young players into the Wallabies over the couple of seasons and they’ve had test match experience. He’s brought some experienced players back from overseas as well, so there’s always a bit of juggling going on from all coaches and Eddie’s no different.
“For all international coaches, it’s about trying to develop a squad for the here and but also, obviously, for the campaign leading to next year in France.”
Jones’ balancing act is symbolised by the decision to recall Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care after four years in the international wilderness.
“I guess it’s form, and form matters,” Gregan says. “Eddie and the English selectors wouldn’t have lost sight of that.
"He’s a really quality player, experienced player and they’re always good players to have on a tour like that to Australia, where you’re playing back to back to back test matches.
“You want to always be blooding youth but then having that experience. Danny Care’s in form, he knows how to play, he provides a good engine and it’s a well-earned position for him. It’s just all part of balancing to keep that squad right.”
Whilst his focus in the coming weeks will be on Australia vs England, Gregan has been able to focus on his second sporting passion, golf, since his retirement in 2011 and is relishing a trip to St Andrews to watch The 150th Open Championship later this month.
“I love my golf,” he says. “I was introduced to golf when I was about 11 through my cousin in Zimbabwe, playing out the local course.
“I remember hitting a seven iron over the water and just thinking it was amazing. I hit a lot of bad shots but that shot stood out and I got the bug.
“I’ve played it ever since and talking about what’s happening now with the 150th Open happening soon. I’ve never been to St Andrews, the home of golf, so I’m looking forward to being part of a special event.”
