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A host of former Wallaby rugby skippers disagree with test coach John Connolly's decision to buck tradition and appoint two co-captains.
Andrew Slack, Mark Ella and Tim Horan have all expressed major doubts about Connolly's call to choose Stirling Mortlock and Phil Waugh as joint leaders.
The trio of greats believe sharing the critical role for the start of the international season will create on-field confusion for the players.
Connolly and his fellow test selectors made the left-field decision after failing to guarantee long-term skipper George Gregan an automatic start at halfback.
Horan, who also captained Queensland under Connolly, had no problems with overlooking Gregan, who is in a battle with Matt Giteau to keep his No 9 jersey but was concerned about the direction of the side.
"I don't agree with co-captains but it's the best time to make a change in the captaincy sense because the captain should be one of the first players picked," he said.
"You don't know who to turn to. I agree with different leaders in the team. When we won the World Cup in 1999 we had six or seven leaders in the team.
"I think you need one decision maker and probably three sergeants.
"I think you need that leader to be in control."
Ella, who led Australia for 10 tests from 1982-84, said a sole captain needed to be appointed in time for the Tri-Nations, staring on June 16 against South Africa.
"I'm not crazy about co-captains," he said.
"I'd prefer everyone knew who the captain is. By appointing two captains, I'm not sure if the coach knows who will be in the team and he's having a bet each way."
Ella doubted the two tests against Wales and one against Fiji over the next three weeks would give a proper gauge of Mortlock and Waugh's leadership abilities.
"Only under extreme pressure and adversity true leaders come through," he said.
While dumped Wallabies hooker Jeremy Paul has cautioned against instability without Gregan at the helm, Slack said he was confident the Wallabies could stay tight.
But the 1984 Grand Slam-winning skipper feared two captains would complicate and confuse matters.
"It will take some doing to get it to work, it's not going to be simple," he said.
"But if you're ever going to have an ex-captain in your team then George Gregan would be the man as he would do his upmost to ensure the co-captains know they have his support.
"He's such a good bloke in the team environment and he knows what his role is.
"He's in control of his ego and he knows he can still contribute." Gregan's predecessor, John Eales, preferred not to comment but had endorsed the 127-test veteran as Australia's best halfback and leader midway through the Super 14.
www.stuff
Andrew Slack, Mark Ella and Tim Horan have all expressed major doubts about Connolly's call to choose Stirling Mortlock and Phil Waugh as joint leaders.
The trio of greats believe sharing the critical role for the start of the international season will create on-field confusion for the players.
Connolly and his fellow test selectors made the left-field decision after failing to guarantee long-term skipper George Gregan an automatic start at halfback.
Horan, who also captained Queensland under Connolly, had no problems with overlooking Gregan, who is in a battle with Matt Giteau to keep his No 9 jersey but was concerned about the direction of the side.
"I don't agree with co-captains but it's the best time to make a change in the captaincy sense because the captain should be one of the first players picked," he said.
"You don't know who to turn to. I agree with different leaders in the team. When we won the World Cup in 1999 we had six or seven leaders in the team.
"I think you need one decision maker and probably three sergeants.
"I think you need that leader to be in control."
Ella, who led Australia for 10 tests from 1982-84, said a sole captain needed to be appointed in time for the Tri-Nations, staring on June 16 against South Africa.
"I'm not crazy about co-captains," he said.
"I'd prefer everyone knew who the captain is. By appointing two captains, I'm not sure if the coach knows who will be in the team and he's having a bet each way."
Ella doubted the two tests against Wales and one against Fiji over the next three weeks would give a proper gauge of Mortlock and Waugh's leadership abilities.
"Only under extreme pressure and adversity true leaders come through," he said.
While dumped Wallabies hooker Jeremy Paul has cautioned against instability without Gregan at the helm, Slack said he was confident the Wallabies could stay tight.
But the 1984 Grand Slam-winning skipper feared two captains would complicate and confuse matters.
"It will take some doing to get it to work, it's not going to be simple," he said.
"But if you're ever going to have an ex-captain in your team then George Gregan would be the man as he would do his upmost to ensure the co-captains know they have his support.
"He's such a good bloke in the team environment and he knows what his role is.
"He's in control of his ego and he knows he can still contribute." Gregan's predecessor, John Eales, preferred not to comment but had endorsed the 127-test veteran as Australia's best halfback and leader midway through the Super 14.
www.stuff
