AUSTRALIA skipper George Gregan could be thrown an unlikely Test lifeline with John Connolly certain to be confirmed within weeks as the next Australia coach.
During the Tri-Nations series he toyed with the idea of leaving the halfback off the end-of-season tour.
Jones has privately claimed the Australian Rugby Union vetoed Gregan's sacking. The coach did keep him on throughout the tour but replaced Gregan early in Test losses to England and Wales.
During the Wallabies' disastrous tour of Europe, Connolly claimed Gregan was still the man to lead the side to the 2007 World Cup in France.
While not in the hunt to replace Eddie Jones when airing his opinion two months ago, and refusing to comment publicly since applying for the post, Connolly still believes
Gregan is capable of extending a record-breaking Test career.
Until Connolly surged into favouritism to replace Jones when Ewen McKenzie pulled out of the race on Monday, Gregan was destined to end his Wallabies days with 118 Test appearances. If Jones had kept the coaching job, he would have dispensed with Gregan.
The Daily Telegraph, in the lead-up to the Cardiff Test, claimed Gregan was set to retire.
The skipper denied the story, but well-placed sources maintain Gregan was ready to walk because he knew Jones planned to dump him this year.
Instead, the Wales loss was a death knell for Jones.
McKenzie stopped short of confirming he would have axed Gregan.
But the NSW coach did say he would make tough decisions and was not swayed by reputation.
Another initial Wallabies coaching hopeful, David Nucifora, claimed he would make changes, including sacking Gregan, if appointed.
It appeared only Connolly could save Gregan, and the lifeboat is on its way - ironically at the same time All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga has announced his Test retirement at age 32.
Gregan is a month older and turns 33 in April.
His hopes of remaining a Wallabies player were further boosted last night when Crusaders boss Robbie Deans said he would not apply for the Australia post.
The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday Deans could be a late challenger for the Wallabies job.
Deans admitted in Christchurch there had been "initial contact" from Australia sounding him out about the job.
He refused to name the mystery party but denied it was a direct approach from the ARU. Refusing to say how far talks went, Deans added: "It's not an option."
The Daily Telegraph
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17788387-23217,00.html
