By CraigB -
November 10th 2009 @ 1:39am
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Shades of Latham’s style in Giteau’s play
As I watched the Wallabies take on England, I wondered why a player of Giteau’s obvious talents seemed to be making the wrong choices in attack, continually hitting the defensive line hard when a deft pass was in order.
He was also hesitating when he should have just gone for broke.
It reminded me in many ways of a young Chris Latham in a Wallaby jumper. It seemed back then that Latham, so used to having to do it all to raise the Reds, felt the same compulsion when donning his nations’ jumper.
The problem being, of course, that you may get away with it for Queensland, but you have every chance of being shown up in the Test arena. It seemed that when he learned to trust his Australian teammates, he flourished into the great player that he should always have been.
It looks to me like Giteau, so used to having world beaters in Larkham, Gregan and Mortlock around him, suddenly has the Australian rugby world on his shoulders. It looks like he is trying to do it all himself, which is just making matters worse.
I think he, too, could learn to trust his teammates. Not only will it make them better, but it will help him get back to his best, which is what he would desperately like.
Here’s hoping the solid performances of Cooper, Ioane and Genia bring trust along with them.
The other side of Latham was also on display, especially around the 70th minute. AAC had no right to score that try. 15 metres out, no room to evade, and two defenders to get through. You do not score from that situation.
You perhaps set up a ruck and not get bundled into touch. You maybe put through a grubber for a chaser. But you do not score.
This refusal to submit to a situation, to show the leg drive and sheer bloody mindedness was classic Latham.
Let’s hope that AAC can develop a decent kicking game and become the next Latham, because I reckon Ioane is on the way to being the next Mortlock.
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(30)
Short-Blind. said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:05am | Report comment
CB you are right – Giteau is overplaying his hand at present to the detriment of better team outcomes. Its as if he is trying to prove to Deans that he has ’still got it’ and is the attacking arrow point of the team. In the earlier tests this year against Italy and France – his left foot step and short dart through the 9/10/12 channel proved fruitful as he scored a couple of tries. He is like the fast starry player in the under 10’s who tries to score and run around / through the opposition at every opportunity!
He made crucial mistakes twice deep on attack in the England 22 where a draw and pass (remember that?) or run around with linking options to the outside would likely have resulted in 5 pointers for the Wallabies. The good thing is this can be fixed. Giteau is a confidence player – I guess Deans doesn’t want to dent his confidence/ego at present and risk team harmony. There is obviously a relationship mending exercise going on there. That said Deans should get the video out in Dublin and have a quiet 15 mins with Gits. There should be a black board in the room and Gits should write out 100 times – pick you time, pick your time……
Arky said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:32am | Report comment
Agreed – and on so many front front. Giteau is continually overpayling his hand. Is he just ignoring team strategy and tcatics or just making bad choices – looks like both to me. Cooper and Ione both had great games – as did AAC. Bring on the new boys…it will be great to see some of them settle into positions they can build strength in and I suspect that is what Denas will offer from this tour…
stillmissit said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:38am | Report comment
Great insight and timely post Craig. I had not thought of this angle as to why Giteau was doing what he was doing. I thought it was just an I/C doing what an I/C does.
I wonder if Deans has seen this aspect of his game as well. Deans seems to prefer to let guys evolve into what he wants rather than push them. This has advantages in terms of ego massaging and long term development but the downside is the time it takes and the opportunities lost.
I am hoping that Giteau will have appreciated what Quade Cooper did outside him and can relax a bit. Last Saturday, I think he was hoping it would be the GIts show and it wasn’t. Time to build on the team not individuals, lets hope Gits has seen this.
It was obvious that Giteau disliked Luke Burgess a lot, if we had a better 5/8 maybe Genia wouldn’t have had his chance. So maybe we have got Gits to thank for Genia.
Robbo said | November 10th 2009 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
I don’t think Gits was the only one to dislike Burgess (or at least Burgess the player). Every Australian rugby fan should hope Burgess is never again allowed to don the green and gold. Personally I’d put either Valentine or Phibbs (perhaps even Sheehan) onto the Wallaby bench and get rid of LB all together.
Bill said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
I love to see Mark Ella get involved with the Wallaby backline and show Giteau how timing of passes, run arounds, angle running etc can unlock defensive structures. Going one out trying to beat your man using a step or acceleration in international test matches rarely works.
Gary said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
Great Article. Gits is a star, but not a star team member. Hopefully as he matures he will come to realise that a star team will beat a team of stars every time. He needs to learn to “pass the bloody thing Matthew”.
On the the positive I only saw him do one absolutley stupid kick away of possesion agains the Poms instead of the many we have seen previoulsy.
Rule number one. If you’ve got the ball you can score and the opposition can’t.
fox said | November 10th 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
The reality is that we have no idea why Giteau took on the line when he did at those times. I have seen somewhere on the forums someone suggest it is possible that he and Cooper might have been instructed to target Wilkinson’s inside (left?) shoulder given that it was the one that it had been a recurring injury. Spiro suggests it may have been a tactic to wear him down – and that it may have worked given he was running out of steam in the 2nd half. Those theories aside, in the moment I agree they were not the best options, mainly I have come this view because well, I saw the outcome and can say what I want now with the benefit of hindsight.
Giteau can definitely beat his man but I do agree he needed to pick his moments better, if beating his man was his sole intention. I am looking forward to seeing him utlilise his backline in the coming tests if he is allowed some time and space (by both his pack and to some degree, the opposition). Giteau also appears more threatening when attacking from a more flat position, almost at the gain line. This is where his quick feet allow him to beat his man, as opposed to allowing the opposition to size him up for a few steps.
He played so well for the Force this year. Given the defenses in test match rugby are always better, but he needs to regain that form. It was not only his running that was better, but his decision making. Countless times you saw him call a switch from one side of a ruck to another while he raced into position to expose overlaps or weakened defenses. He also found more fat props to run at it seems. Perhaps that was more the structure Mitchell put in place as opposed to Deans’ backline strategy, however, he definitely made better decisions then than now.
Wallabies to beat Ireland by 3 (and I am talking something like 12-9, not a big scoring event). I make this prediction with absolutely no consideration or confidence either, by the way.
Cutter said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:40pm | Report comment
The Wallabies brains trust are bereft of brains if they think the best way to test a dicky shoulder is to run 2 of the 3 smallest blokes at it. I read Spiro’s theory and think its bollocks. If they were running Palu and Elsom at it all day I might be more inclined to agree. Giteau wasted several very good attacking opportunities in the red zone by taking it himself and I can’t believe this was part of the “game plan”.
Gits should be moved to 12, which is where he played most of the game on Saturday anyway. If Barnes was fit, I’d be tempted to give Gits a rest.
fox said | November 11th 2009 @ 7:29am | Report comment
I agree. But we’ve seen him jink into space from that position countless times. The opposition obviously did their homework. He overplayed his hand.
ob said | November 10th 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
I think this is spot on. Gits played his best footie when he was released by Larkham, who was a brilliant decision maker. Ever since he moved to fly-half he seems caught between his excellent running game and his broader role as chief decison maker. I think he looks better a little wider, but, in the abscence of Barnes, needs to remain in a key playmaking role. In this sense, I think Deans is doing the right thing with his flexible approach to 10/12. Hopefully this will get the best of both worlds.
Rin said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
Im going to have to disagree with you there ob, Gits played his best rugby in the last two years in the force number 10 jumpers (esp 2009), as far as i can remember before that everyone thought he was great but ever since those last two seasons he has been talked about as the worlds best, and it was a disgrace that G Smith got Aus Super 14 player of the year in front of him in 2009.
His recent dip in form, if thats what you can call it is exactly as the article states because he feels as though he has to do everything himself to kickstart the Aus backline, i mean on saturday he was acting as an 8 by trying to run almost straight at the english defence, and it clearly wasnt working. To be fair he was outplayed by Wilkinson and so far this year has been pretty much outplayed by all 10’s he faced in the 3N’s, and i believe it was because there was too much pressure on him to lift the team.
George said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
Well written.
When Berrick Barnes is fit drop Giteau to the bench as he needs to have a good look at himself. Barnes would definitely make a better fly half & he is a team player who plays for the Wallaby honour.
It is time for a fresh backline that has not being selfishly influenced by Gregan in his final years in Aussie rugby.
Playing for the Wallabies is an Australian honour not a pay packet – we need to devalue the influence of RUPA on the players.
CraigB said | November 10th 2009 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
George – I dont think he needs to be dropped, I think he just needs to trust and back the players selected to play alongside him
George said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
CraigB – he needs a wake up call.
Unfortunately he believes in his own publicity & self worth and as such being dropped will make him have a good look at himself and get the hunger back and as such become the damaging player he once was (he has lost his flair). His tri nations this year was a shocker – and such bad performances should not be tolerated in sport – you should never own your position & to get the best out of any player they should be aware their position in the team is constantly under review based on performance/results – we do not want a team of non-performers when Eddie Jones & John Connolly coached the team.
Team sport is result & performance driven – it is not a permanent secure job – when this is made obvious to all Aussie rugby players , not just the test squad, you will see better player performances in Super 14’s as well.
CraigB said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
thats my point George. I think he has the hunger still and doesn’t feel he owns the job. I think he wants it too badly and doesn’t back his team mates in. Look at the earlytest this year against Italy and France. He looked the goods, but against superior oppn he seemed to take it all on himself to his and the teams detriment.
George said | November 10th 2009 @ 6:20pm | Report comment
CraigB – let us agree to disagree. His performance in the Irish test will determine if your point of view is correct.
I am firmly of the opinion his days in the team are numbered when Berrick Barnes is fully fit and I think he knows it. He needs to be disciplined as he is full of himself and he desperately needs a wake up call. He needs to find his form of old plus enjoy playing rugby & not treat it as a job – go back & play club rugby. His game now is boring & he is too one dimensional & very predictable.
Shahsan said | November 10th 2009 @ 7:00pm | Report comment
Latham? Great? Greatest flat track bully, perhaps.
Davey said | November 11th 2009 @ 10:00pm | Report comment
Tell that to the forwards playing with him who time and time again jogged 60M upfield for a lineout after another Latham clearance.
Shahsan said | November 12th 2009 @ 5:57am | Report comment
That’s no definition of greatness. Many fullbacks can do that. Burke, Gould etc could do that and much more.
Latham was usually found out in the biggest games. Go have a look at the history. He looked great against weak teams or when the cause was lost, or when he was just gilding the lily, but he was never a match winner when the chips were down.
Who Needs Melon said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:00pm | Report comment
CraigB,
Spiro drew all the comments today which has a lot to do with the fact that there’s not much to argue about in your assessments. And I thought EXACTLY the same thing watching AACs try.
And Shahsan, Latham was a great. He may not have started out that way but he sure ended that way. Giteau burst onto the scene and has been a stayer in the team for a while. Let’s hope he rediscovers his mojo and ends up a great too.
Shahsan said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:09pm | Report comment
How was he great? He looked brilliant and scored some great tries against weak teams or when the cause was lost but I can hardly remember him as a match winner in tight contests or when the situation desperately called for someone to pull brilliance out of the fire.
Good, yes, but not great, in my opinion. Would not class him with Burke or Gould, let alone Roff or Roebuck.
CraigB said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:36pm | Report comment
Shahsan – I wasn’t going to give you the satisfaction, but I suggest you look at the Latham games again. Several time he was instrumental in big games. Not just his try scoring, but tackling and kicking as well. Go have a look from 2004-05. Then consider he left when he still had plenty to offer.
Shahsan said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:34pm | Report comment
So anyway, CraigB, i did have a quick look at the results of the Tri Nations in 2004 and 2005. No signs of greatness anywhere. Where else do you want me to look? Autumn internationals? June internationals? World Cup? Commonwealth Games?
Seriously, my point really is that writers should not waste words such as great or brilliant on those who are not.
Shahsan said | November 10th 2009 @ 8:57pm | Report comment
Yes, that golden period in Australian rugby. Just shows that the phrase ‘great’ is bandied about a bit too easily these days. One day Adam Ashley Cooper will be great, as will be Tuqiri, and Mitchell etc etc.
Shahsan said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:08pm | Report comment
All are/were good players. including Latham, but not a ‘great’ in my book. Stephen Jones of the Sunday Times called him the greatest fullback he had ever seen — yes, better than Serge Blanco, Andy Irvine, JPR Williams, Christian Cullen, Matt Burke etc.
Parisien said | November 10th 2009 @ 9:49pm | Report comment
I think Latham was an excellent fullback, right up there with the best, although Blanco is still my favourite. I remember Latham scoring some tries out of absolutely nothing in big games against South Africa, New Zealand, France and England. My only criticism of him is that being a big man, defensively he could get turned.
Shahsan said | November 10th 2009 @ 10:30pm | Report comment
I don’t know which big games you mean. By big games I mean the World Cups, the Tri Nations and the Lions series. Was he influential in any of those matches? No.
Was he wondrous against Namibia or on end-of-season jaunts, yes he was.
As I said, capable of the occasional great moment, but never a match winner, never the ‘go to’ man.
Dave said | November 11th 2009 @ 12:57am | Report comment
Giteau may shine at S14 level, but not in the sense that he ignites a backline. He is an individual player. Allways has been and always will be. There is nothing wrong with that. Its those skills that make him stand out – particulary at S14 level.
The problem with him at 10 against top opposition is that he cant get away with beating a player on the outside or standing them up every time. In fact, its getting harder and harder. He is not getting through half gaps like he used to.
Part of the problem is that the opposition know he’s coming. With the defence sweating on Larkham and Mortlock, our range of attacking options created space for Gits to work his magic.
Now with Gits alone calling the shots they know that he will either A) Run straight at the line, or B) Shift the ball one out without taking on the line…
I am a big fan of his, but he is not a play maker. We need Cooper with his passing options at 10 fulltime, and Digby with his running angles and strength at 13 to take the focus of Gits (who needs to move to 12). Once that combination is formed, Giteau will be dancing though defences once again!
Adrian said | November 11th 2009 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
Agree 100% with Giteau doubters. No15 is the spot for Gits (can’t they use more creative nicknames?). More similarity with Latham!
He just cannot be allowed to be anywhere near the decision making.
“Let go” Gits, and allow others to make you look good.
Otherwise the bench.
mudskipper said | November 11th 2009 @ 9:01pm | Report comment
I think Deans wanted the Wallabies including Giteau to run at Wilkinson to tire him out… However when Giteau went wide and through the long ball to AAC it was game over after Ashley pushed over…