Grey up for England test

Nathan Grey has elbowed his way back into the Australia team as an emergency fly-half for Saturday’s Cook Cup face-off with England in Melbourne, and recent history suggests the physical Sydneysider won’t be shy in making his presence felt.

England flanker Richard Hill, the 2001 Lions squad and legions of British rugby fans are all too aware of that.

Grey’s sharp elbow off the ball in the second Test, under the same roof of what is now known as the Telstra Dome, put Hill out of the game, and proved one of the most significant turning points.

Australia, already 1-0 down, trailed at half-time but staged a rampant second-half comeback, initiated by Joe Roff’s interception try but aided in no small part by the departure of Hill.

The Saracens man had been a constant thorn in the side for the Wallabies during the game and while Grey insisted the collision had been accidental, there is no doubting he is more of a physical than flighty three-quarter.

“I didn’t really know there was such a big buzz about it until Fox started screening the fly-on-the-wall Lions video,” he said.

“Only then did I see the uproar the incident caused on the field. I have such great memories of that tour. Without a doubt it was an accident, there was absolutely no intent there whatsoever.

“You never want to see anyone leaving the field and not coming back.”

Grey will mark his full comeback from a chronic knee injury in Saturday’s Test, but in a position he has experienced in only a handful of matches.

He has played at stand-off “three or four times” for Manly, once for the NSW Waratahs and for 40 minutes in a Test as a second-half replacement for Rod Kafer against England at Twickenham in 2000. The Waratahs and Wallabies lost both games.

Australia coach Eddie Jones is anxious to have three fly-halves available for the World Cup, and is excited about the opportunity of developing Grey into more of a utility player.

He pointed to the Gosford-born 28-year-old as an enthusiastic player, solid in defence, willing to hit the line with pace and power and boasting an impressive work ethic.

The flamboyant skills of his predecessor Tim Horan may not be there, but Grey is confident that after battling back from surgery at the end of the 2002 Super 12 season, he can add significantly more to his 30 Test caps.

“When I first started to play Test football, I was behind players like Tim Horan,” he said. "Being an inside centre, that’s where I wanted to play consistently for the Wallabies.

“In 2001 that opportunity came but injuries took that away. The thought that went through my head after I did my knee was ’lets get this right for next year - it’s a big year’.”

Grey returned to play for Sydney ahead of the Super 12 and impressed as the Waratahs made a late push for the semi-finals, missing out in the end by one try.

Now he faces up against Jonny Wilkinson and has already admitted that he alone cannot be expected to match the talents and experience of England’s pivot.

He also knows his role at 10 is a stop-gap measure until Elton Flatley, who was dropped after sleeping through a team recovery session, returns to the fold, or Stephen Larkham and Matt Giteau regain fitness.

But he is nevertheless up for the enormous challenge.

“I am ecstatic,” he said. “I think it’s a responsibility and a challenge for myself to contribute to the side the best way I possibly can.

“I played three or four games for Manly at five-eighth, a Super 12 game against the Sharks in Durban a few years ago and a little bit of Test football.

“I’d like to think I would be able to distribute the ball where applicable, but I’d like to think I could tuck it under my wing and keep defences honest.”