Waratahs v Highlanders Sun 6th July @ the SFS

[Pfitzy]

Grey was a good player, but I think he's rather overrated by some on here. We've had quite a few 12s who, as complete players, are head and shoulders over Grey. In the modern era, there's Horan, Giteau, arguably Flatley, and now perhaps To'omua if he stays at 12 for a few years.

Also remember that Grey was the 12 in the era of Brumbieball too though - where Australia played an inside centre, not a second five-eighths as the Kiwis call it. The plan didn't require a "complete" player - it called for a guy who would run through a brick wall or two with or without the ball. Grey and Herbert together was a match made in heaven for Rod Macqueen's style of play, in an age when the competition at the breakdown wasn't quite as fierce due to an emphasis on attacking rugby.

Its a key difference when comparing him to guys like Horan and Giteau, who had much better hands and in Giteau's case, a decent boot.

Flatley was a tough rooster and made his tackles, but didn't smash blokes as often as Grey.


While that tackle on BOD in 2001 Lions #2 is a pretty big moment, the other one in his career that stands out for me was RWC99 SF against South Africa.

When Horan had finally run out of bile to burn, being one of the few players to break the line, Grey came on and made a couple of key runs, including bashing up an extra 5 metres in contact right before Larkham's dropgoal