George Gregan was unusually talkative today, considering there wasn't a scrum formed or rugby referee in sight. And all seems right in the lead up to Saturday's big match.

The Wallabies halfback is often regarded as a reluctant, almost surly interview subject on his home soil but Gregan's body language ahead of the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations decider at Eden Park on Saturday indicated he was relishing his last tour of New Zealand in a professional capacity.

Gregan's relaxed demeanour was probably due to a friendly line of questioning from local media; no one dared suggest his pass was too laboured or whether his thought processes were no longer sharp enough for the international game.

Critics across the Tasman have used those arguments when railing against Gregan's continual selection.

The game's most capped player had the final word though -- other options were tried behind an often creaky Wallabies scrum but the reality is Gregan appears the safest option.

Coach John Connolly will even have the captain's armband waiting in France for what is to be Gregan's fourth and final World Cup.

Rather than focus on his last test at Eden Park this weekend, Gregan was happier to reminisce on the All Blacks component of a career spanning 133 tests.

Inevitably that match-winning tackle at the Sydney Football Stadium on Jeff Wilson in 1994 got an airing, along with the four words likely to form his epitaph -- in New Zealand at least -- when he finally retires: "Four more years boys!".

Gregan was conciliatory on both counts claiming Wilson deserved to be remembered as one of the world's premier wingers, not for a dropped ball over the line in the dying minutes.

"I don't think enough's been said about Jeff Wilson, he went on to be a great winger," said Gregan, who was 21 at the time and playing his first test against a major nation.

"It certainly made a mark, but I've probably made a more important tackle in the Lions series, it's just no one saw it."

Gregan was referring to a tackle on British and Irish Lions wing Iain Balshaw during the spine-tingling third test at Sydney's Stadium Australia in 2001, a match best remembered for Justin Harrison stealing a lineout throw as Graham Henry's men strived to overturn a 23-29 deficit as the clock ran down.

"No one saw it, the cameras missed it unlike 1994 but Roffy (Joe Roff) thanked me because it was his man," he said.

The cameras did famously pick up his taunt to a prone Byron Kelleher when it became apparent the Wallabies were about to complete a stunning World Cup semifinal upset on the same ground four years ago.

Was that his best sledge? Has he a better example of mental disintegration?

"I don't really rate my sledges ... it's just one of those things, things get said on the field, some get caught on camera," Gregan said, almost sheepishly.

"It's just a bit of gamesmanship really. I've been on the end of a lot of those from the likes of Sean Fitzpatrick and others. That's the nature of trans-Tasman rivalry. He even copped a bit from some kids as the Wallabies hopped off their team bus today, though it was water off a duck's back for an Australian as widely recognisable as the 34-year-old.

"They called me different names .... but I enjoy playing here, they're good sports and enjoy their rugby.

"I love playing here. I've always had a high regard for New Zealand rugby and the culture of the place.

So much so the part-time barista has vowed to return to sample the cafe culture.

"This particular match is the last time I'll be playing but it won't be the last time I come back, that's for sure."