George Gregan reveals his sledge on Springboks legend who he likens to Maro Itoje
Maro Itoje of the British and Irish Lions and Harry Wilson of Australia speaking with referee Andrea Piardi and an inset of Wallabies legend George Gregan.
Legendary Wallabies scrum-half George Gregan has weighed in on the actions of Maro Itoje and Harry Wilson during the final moments of the second Test between Australia and the British and Irish Lions.
After Hugo Keenan danced his way over the try line, Wallabies skipper Wilson charged towards referee Andrea Piardi pleading with him to review Jac Morgan’s clear-out on Carlo Tizzano, with Lions skipper Itoje arriving shortly afterwards.
The latter attempted to usher the former away from the official, telling him to “go away” and give the referee space to make the decision.
That was just one occasion during the match where the two captains clashed, but it was the most telling one.
Itoje was ‘within his rights’
Appearing on the KOKO Rugby podcast, Gregan was asked what he thought about the interaction, particularly Itoje’s actions.
“Well, he’s within his rights to do that,” he replied.
“Like he’s got every right to do that, and Maro as a captain has got every right to sort of say, ‘Leave it to the referees’.
“There is a bit of like this push and shove, and that is everyone trying to get the rub of the green.”
Itoje first captained England this year and was appointed as the Lions skipper ahead of the tour. While being an inexperienced captain, the Englishman deploys similar leadership tactics to Springboks legend John Smit, according to Gregan.
Smit captained South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory in 2007 and led the Boks a record 83 times between 2003 and 2011, clashing several times with the Wallabies legend, who explained the similarities between Itoje and former hooker.
Eddie Jones: Where Andrea Piardi got it ‘wrong’ and his verdict on Jac Morgan’s clear-out
John Smit-esque
Gregan revealed how he used his notorious sharp mouth to combat the size difference between the pair.
“I remember in 2004 when John Smit, I think we played the Springboks in Perth… We went up and were querying the referee and John Smit, who is a big slice, he is a big piece of flesh, he goes up to the ref – a bit like Maro and Jonno [Martin Johnson] and those guys, they kind of use their presence in a way – I’m obviously not the same size and height of those guys and he is just saying, ‘Ref, you must check this,'” he recalled.
“I said to Smitty, ‘You are not wearing TNT, you don’t have the whistle, you’re not the referee, you’re the captain, so just let him referee’.
“He didn’t like that. He told me in a nice way to go forth and multiply, and the referee had a smirk on his face. I get it though, that sort of theatre. But also, you know what, leave it to the referee, leave it to the officials, because everyone wants the decision to go their way.
“Maro wanted it to go his way, and obviously, Harry wanted to have it checked out to see if there was something there. But I don’t mind that, it wasn’t a disrespectful challenge, but there is a bit of banter between them. Play on.”
On the final call, which went in favour of the Lions, Gregan added: “They made a decision. We could argue blue in the face was it or wasn’t it but ultimately, that Test match, if you are talking about just that decision, we know when you lose a match in the last period of time, you had chances to win prior to that.”
READ MORE: Loose Pass: Maro Itoje’s ‘mental resolve’ overshadowed by ‘moany’ adolescent behaviour
