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About Greg Growden
About Greg Growden
Greg Growden has been the Chief Rugby Correspondent for the The Sydney Morning Herald since 1987. He started writing about rugby union in 1981, and in more than 25 years has reported on more than 200 test matches and covered countless Wallaby tours. He has chronicled the big changes in rugby: The birth of the World Cup, the turn to professionalism, the rise of the Super 14 and Tri-Nations tournaments and the return of South Africa to the international fold. France 2007 will be Growden's sixth World Cup.
Mortlock on guard for hangover
If you want to stop the Wallabies from beating their chests, you just mention two Test locations - Auckland and Johannesburg.
McKenzie rediscovers his zest among the beautiful boulevards
Le Link is loving his new life in France, writes Greg Growden in
Paris.
Thinking outside the square puts the Wallabies back on the defensive
The leak is now down to a slow drip. One of the Wallabies' standout
features over recent years has been their impeccable defence. But
that crown had slipped this season, as shown before they began
their northern hemisphere tour - the number of tries scored against
them (25) was higher than their tally (24).
Wallabies can break French down
Australia's dominance at the breakdown, France's inability to use
their Parisian home-ground advantage and the Wallabies forwards
wanting to prove they can back up after their Twickenham scrum
heroics should help Australia to their third Test victory in a row,
according to former NSW coach Ewen McKenzie.
Giteau kicks on after winning mind game
A crucial element in a successful Robbie Deans team is an accurate
and prolific goalkicker. At the Canterbury Crusaders, Deans had
Andrew Mehrtens and Daniel Carter, and now with the Wallabies he
has Matt Giteau.
Forwards revamp gives pack even more punch
The Wallabies have revamped their pack by rewarding prop Ben Alexander, promoting breakaway Dean Mumm and shifting Hugh McMeniman to the second row for Saturday night's Test against France.
Hyperactive Mortlock leads from front, the back line, in the huddles …
STIRLING MORTLOCK was at his frenetic best at Twickenham, smashing opponents in the tackle, willing on teammates, organising powwows, going kamikaze-like at the England defence, drilling penalty goals from halfway and, in a few quieter moments, showing he had come of age as an Australian skipper.
More killer instinct needed: Deans
WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans believes his team has the chance to prove it is not a "flash in the pan" outfit by being as brutal against France on Saturday as they were against England.
Pack of highs as redemption arrives
OUTSIDE the Wallabies' dressing room at Twickenham, forwards coach Michael Foley was in overdrive. This was the moment he had been waiting so long for. The one-time Australian rake had spent the past three years working to get the Wallabies pack back on track, for seemingly little reward. At last, though, his moment had come.
Front-line warriors reap the dividends
AN EMOTIONAL Wallabies forwards coach Michael Foley described the Twickenham triumph as the moment when his Test pack "effectively buried a demon".
Scrum rebellion: Aussies give Old Dart a kicking
A MIGHTY scrummaging effort, composure under pressure, rigid self-belief and an inspirational kicking effort by five-eighth Matt Giteau led to one of Australia's most important recent victories when they overcame England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Media gives pack a pat on the back
THE British media, which had turned hunting down and maiming the Wallabies scrum into a national sport, yesterday did a 180-degree turn and heaped praise on the Australian pack.
Tahu the centrepiece in defensive gambit
TIMANA TAHU was devastated he had to return to Sydney this week after suffering yet another hamstring injury but his departure from the Wallabies has left Robbie Deans with an added disappointment - the coach cannot continue with his big experiment.
Wallabies' keys to success
Deep in Enid Blyton territory, the Wallabies are working diligently on the secret seven formula to ensure success at Twickenham early tomorrow morning. Greg Growden outlines the formula.
Wall Mart
Destroyer of the Wallabies as England captain at the 2003 World Cup, Martin Johnson now looms large once more as team manager and is the biggest obstacle between the Australians and a coveted victory at Twickenham, writes Greg Growden.
Twickenham cauldron will give me magic powers, reckons Burgess
Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess wants to use the pomp and ceremony
of a Twickenham Test to lift him to new heights against England
today (early Sunday morning, Sydney time).
'Madness' promises a pack of surprises
THE Australian scrum, mercilessly ridiculed by the British media, is on the improve, according to Wallabies back-rower Hugh McMeniman, and will surprise everyone - especially the English pack - at Twickenham on Saturday.
How Deans freed Hynes from obscurity
IT WASN'T his outright speed cultivated by schoolboy sprinting days. Or his excellent finishing. It had more to do with aspects of his game many wingers are eager to avoid. Wanting to be physical. Wanting to get involved. It grabbed Robbie Deans's attention.
No loss adjustment, says Mortlock
WALLABIES captain Stirling Mortlock is adamant Australia's embarrassing early World Cup exit at the hands of England will have no bearing on Saturday's Test.
Baxter shrugs off a pack of jibes with a big smile
APART from the times when David Campese had bouts of foot-in-mouth disease, no Wallaby has been ridiculed more by the British media than prop Al Baxter.
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