How can a great sporting leader be defined?

Is it the fact that he is the best player on the team or the smartest or does he have to earn the respect of those around him both on and off the field.

When Australian Wallabies captain John Eales takes the field he is the custodian of the game, his game.

David Walsh, Britain’s sports writer of the year said: “Though he has climbed to rugby’s pinnacle he has done it without self obsession. His rugby has been defined by skill, not force. He has always been a gentle man.”

John Eales is one of the most admired and respected Australian rugby captains in the history of the game.

Some would beg to differ and say Nick Farr Jones could be the man but Eales has captained more tests than any other, 52 in total.

Doesn’t that prove something?

Last year he won the Bledisloe, World Cup and Tri-Nations which was followed this year by the British Lions Series.

He has kicked goals to win tests but that is only the icing on the cake, it’s only a small part of the man who has made him a great leader.

If I had more room to write I would delve further into the John Eales Australia has come to known.

When Eales hangs up his boots tomorrow after the Tri-Nations decider against New Zealand who will be the future?

George Gregan, Daniel Herbert, or Matt Burke, all worthy contenders.

Most would put their odds on Gregan, who was picked by the man himself after he announced his retirement.

Gregan is the Napoleon of the game, the Alfie Langer of rugby union.

But will the Gregan demeanor off the field let him down or could the fact that he is one of the world’s most capped halfbacks get him across the line.

Only time will tell...