The weather is warming up and the temperature in both camps is rising ahead of the semi final clash between Australia and New Zealand at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium tomorrow night.
“It’s (the warm weather) been a little while in coming but I think it’s certainly arrived for this match,” Gregan said at the Australian team press conference today.
“I think both teams will be as well prepared as they can be for those types of conditions.
“We trained in pretty extreme conditions pre World Cup up in Darwin. It was in excess of 30 degrees so mentally it’s good for the guys to know we’ve worked hard for extended periods in extreme conditions.”
Fast and dry
The expected warm weather and dry track for tomorrow's Trans-Tasman stoush will provide the perfect ingredients for an expansive game but Gregan predicts a tight affair between the two old foes.
“I think these games, bar the first Tri Nations match (this year), always pretty much come down to the last play over the last few years so if we’ve had an edge it’s been a very, very small edge.”
The most capped scrum half in the world says his charges are hell bent on leaving nothing in the tank tomorrow night, suggesting the Wallabies won’t die wondering.
“We’ve pretty much taken on that approach this week,”Gregan said.
“It’s a semi final of a World Cup so you don’t want to be asking those questions post game.”
Champing at the bit
Experiencing his first World Cup campaign Wallaby flanker Phil Waugh, who watched from the stands as Australia last won the title in 1999, summed up the mood in the camp.
“It’s a semi final of the World Cup in Sydney, at home, it’s a huge occasion and we can’t wait to get out there,” Waugh said.
Waugh, who made his Test debut in 2000 against England, was coy on the reason for his good form in the green and gold during the Tournament
“In previous years maybe I haven’t had those opportunities and it’s just a matter of taking them when you are given the opportunity,” Waugh explained.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing Test football and being a part of the side and playing alongside the guys like George (Gregan).”
Tough assignment
Waugh knows it will be a tough assignment against the experienced All Blacks trio of Richie McCaw, New Zealand captain Reuben Thorne and number 8 Jerry Collins but is confident in the troops he has alongside him.
“It’s great to play with George (Smith) and David Lyons in the back row, we’re all about the same age and came through Under 19’s and Under 21s together,” Waugh said
“I think the combination is getting better each game we play and I know that all three of us really enjoy playing with each other.”
Battle of the back row
His skipper reckons the battle of the back row could decide the outcome of the match.
“You look at the New Zealand back row and the way they play the game the tackle contest is an area of the game which they generally dominate and for us to win tomorrow night our back row has to perform,” Gregan said.
“I guess the tackle contest and the breakdown is an area which we need to win and that’s our goal.”
Home town advantage
Despite the pressure of defending their world title on home soil Gregan believes the positives far outweigh the negatives.
“It’s definitely an advantage. The guys felt like the damn Beatles yesterday getting off the plane and seeing the amazing support we had just waiting for us at the airport.”
On speculation that the veteran of 93 Tests might draw the curtain on his outstanding international career after the Tournament Gregan said: “It’s certainly the last World Cup semi final I’ll ever play in I know that much and I can’t wait to get into it.”
He'll be singing to his own tune if he leads the Wallabies to victory.