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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.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.