Wallabies skipper Gregan on verge of Test history

AUSTRALIA captain George Gregan is poised to become the most capped player in Test history after being named in the Wallabies team to face France in Marseille tomorrow.

Gregan, aged 32, will earn his 115th cap when he runs out at the Stade Velodrome, eclipsing the record of 114 achieved by England prop Jason Leonard.

The scrum-half will be joined in the half-back pairing by Matt Giteau, who returns at fly-half after missing the last Tri-Nations match with a back injury.

He takes the number 10 shirt from Mat Rogers, who switches to the wing.

Another player back in the Wallabies line-up is winger Wendell Sailor, absent for three matches with a knee injury.

Coach Eddie Jones said: “The French are going to be physical, play with the ball off the ground and we’ve prepared for that.

“They are strong at the set-piece and we’ve already seen that they like to maul the ball as much as possible. We’ve got to be physical, out-muscle them and then use our skill.”

AUSTRALIA (v France): C. Latham; W. Sailor, L. Tuqiri, M. Turinui, M. Rogers; M. Giteau, G. Gregan (capt); M. Dunning, B. Cannon, A. Baxter, M. Chisholm, N. Sharpe, R. Elsom, P. Waugh, G. Smith.

Replacements: S. Moore, G. Holmes, H. McMeniman, J. Roe, C. Whitaker, L. Johansson, D. Mitchell.