Wallabies Must Focus on Present, Not Just Lions: Gregan
Amidst growing excitement for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, former Wallabies captain George Gregan has urged the team to prioritize their current form over future ambitions.
Last year was a challenging one for the Wallabies, with Eddie Jones' tenure seeing them win just two out of nine Tests, both against Tier 2 nations Georgia and Portugal. This dismal record, the worst of any Wallabies coach, left new boss Joe Schmidt with a significant rebuilding task.
Despite a promising start to his reign, including back-to-back victories over Wales and Georgia, Schmidt's side suffered a humbling 33-7 defeat to the Springboks in Brisbane last week. This result has sparked concern about the Wallabies' potential performance against the Lions in 2025, with former Springboks coach Jake White expressing fears of a "humiliation."
However, Gregan believes it's crucial for the Wallabies to stay focused on the present, rather than getting caught up in the hype surrounding the Lions tour.
"I think you've got to be careful," Gregan said, drawing a comparison to the successful Melbourne Storm rugby league team. "They always talk about a plan, like a two or three-year plan... They rarely don't make a final or a preliminary final or playing in grand finals."
He stressed the importance of a "now plan" for the Wallabies, noting, "The 2025 Lions is important for rugby in Australia, that's an understatement. But the here and now is just as important. You can't get too far ahead."
Gregan, Australia's most-capped Test player, shifted his attention to the immediate challenge facing the Wallabies: Saturday's clash against the Springboks in Perth. He sees this match as an opportunity for the team to demonstrate improvement following their disappointing performance in Brisbane.
"Obviously this coming week is another big step up playing the Boks," Gregan added. "It's a great arena, a great opportunity to improve on what they did last week and they need to improve."
The former scrum-half acknowledged the Springboks' status as world champions and their relentless pursuit of improvement, highlighting the immense pressure on the Wallabies to perform in Perth.
As the Wallabies prepare to face the Springboks, Gregan's message of prioritizing the present serves as a reminder for both the team and its supporters that the journey to success is built on consistent progress, not just future aspirations.
