George Gregan is back in Wallabies camp this week, but it's not his skills with a rugby ball in hand that the Test side is using.
Though Gregan’s on-field quality is undisputed, his advice has been attitudinal in nature, helping players with leadership and their mentality.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said Gregan was an invaluable resource to have.
“He’s going to do a bit of work, just our off-field stuff with some of our lads,” he said.
“There’s no one better - he’s the number one around his attitude, leadership, work ethic, he’s got all those things.
“I’ve used him myself on some different counsel and wanting to work off the field with a few different players just around growing the leadership department in the team.”
Cheika said it simply made sense to have someone like Gregan involved.
“It’s just experience from a player who’s been there, done that, well-respected by guys he played against and guy he’s played with,” he said.
“I played with him and against him and he’s so well-respected so I think it was logical for him to come in and I’ll try and get that happening on an ongoing basis.”
Gregan has made appearances in Wallabies camps in the past, post-retirement, working with the team in the lead-up to the World Cup.
The mental side of the game is something Cheika has focused on in the lead-in to the first Rugby Championship camp, pushing his players to physical limits to test their fortitude in their home states.
World Cup-winning All Black Brad Thorn is also in camp, more from an educational perspective, looking to glean some experience to take back to Queensland.
