Wallaby coach Eddie Jones has called on his captain George Gregan to run with the ball more often as the team gets closer to next year's home defence of its World Cup title.

A week after Australia lost its final game of the Tri-Nations 33-31 to South Africa at Ellis Park to surrender its title, Jones told The Sunday Telegraph if Gregan does get more involved it will make the team's attack less predictable.

"He'd like to run more and I'd certainly like him to run more, but it's all a product of the speed of the ball you generate," Jones said. "If you are generating quick ball then it's possible for the No.9 to run.

"It's something that we speak about and continually work at, but it's a product of what happens in front of him. And the other thing is that George is a very selfless sort of player. He's very much a team player and there are times when he could probably be a little more selfish."

Questioned over Jones' comments in the same story, Gregan said that while he would like nothing better than to have the chance to be more involved, unless the pattern of the match allows it there is no point speaking about it.

"Everyone would like to run more but you have to be practical about it," Gregan said. "It's probably something Eddie and I have spoken about for maybe three years but if you can't get the opportunity, you can't get the opportunity. A lot of things negate what you might want to do out there."

Gregan was more concerned with his team improving its performances on the end of season tour to Argentina and Europe as a way of tuning up for the World Cup more fully: "There are areas to improve but we have definitely progressed well this year," he said.