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By Peter Badel
August 19, 2007
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html
AUSTRALIA coach John Connolly has revealed that stripping George Gregan of the Test captaincy ranked among the toughest decisions of his career.
Gregan's glittering 58-Test run as Australia skipper came to an end last month, when Connolly asked Stirling Mortlock to lead the Wallabies to France.
Connolly said Gregan's grace and dignity in accepting the decision proved he had put the Wallabies' success above personal glory.
Gregan would have surpassed England centre Will Carling's record of 59 Tests had he led the Wallabies at the World Cup.
"George not going on tour (to Europe) last year opened the door for Stirling, I guess," Connolly said.
"Stirling has led from the front on the field. It was difficult. George will be remembered as one of our greatest. He'll finish with 140-odd Tests - that's phenomenal when you consider John Eales had around 80. He's a tremendous leader.
"We made a conscious decision this year to broaden our leadership base. Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Phil Waugh and George all have regular meetings and input on the team.
"George is a superb team man. Whatever you ask him to do is not a problem. He's known Stirling for a long time and that helped.
"We communicated quite regularly, I went down the road with him on where he was at the whole time.
"When I said we'd make Stirling captain, he was fine with it. George said, 'that's not a problem with me, as long as we win the World Cup'.
"I've only got to know George for the last two years but in thattime he's always been about the team. He's never said it's about me. He's a credit to the Wallabies."
Connolly said the Wallabies couldn't wait to reach French soil after the Matt Dunning/Lote Tuqiri affair, and reports of a rift among coaching staff.
"Some of the stuff you read are beat-ups and absolute rubbish," Connolly said. "Two of my assistants, Michael Foley and Scott Johnson, returned from overseas last year. We changed the team dramatically. We needed to improve our scrum and lineout quickly.
"Generally, things have been smooth. Different views have been canvassed and there have been times when push has come to shove and we have voted on it.
"Last year was a hard year, but this year has been very smooth. Some of the stuff that I have read, I wonder if I'm part of the same Wallabies team."
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