Matt Giteau to walk out on Wallabies

I don't blame Gits for ending his career. The fans walked out on him years ago. Australia has some of the most pathetic fans ever. Giteau has been a great player; one of the best and most talented to wear the gold jersey.

'(mainly england)' Really? Maybe you meant to type 'Australia'.

I regard Australia's failure to beat New Zealand twice in 2009 the worst part of Deans' reign, because New Zealand played horribly and won! Whenever New Zealand play Australia without either McCaw or Carter I feel really confident. They're truly the McGrath/Warne of rugby. I mean New Zealand really have no aura with me when McCaw and Carter don't play. Do yes when they leave (and hopefully it will be soon) I expect New Zealand to plummet.

Hey shortblind, Bit of optimism there! QC has stated he's up for grabs post RWC either in league or overseas. KB and O'Connor will likely stick around for another few years, KB especially, I can't see him shifting overseas. But I think in today's rugby you only have about 18-24 months of really decent dominant play before a crafty video analyst works out a tactic that'll defuse your attack - and they're six months into this cycle. Gits leaving will surely free up some cash but rather than spend it on existing Wallabies wouldn't it be more sensible to look at younger talent coming through? Don't want to get into the situation where they're paying over the money to retain a couple of decent backs as that was the *exact* issue with Gits... The ARU *must* retain Deans regardless of the RWC result - I know I've knocked him a few times previously but I suspect he is someone who will build the right team and right culture in the longer term.

The players have pretty clearly established themselves as portable pools of talent and I think there's going to be a bit of voluntary movement post RWC. As mentioned ad infinitum by a thousand posters, you have 10 years to do your thing in rugby, so get out there and make the most you can, right? I think there will be some high profile movers, Cooper's pretty much a given but Bam Bam might be giving the NH some thought, a couple seasons in the hard grind against European teams would enhance his skillset no end. Moore, Alexander - I can see them looking in that direction too. It's up to the ARU and what their long-term view is, is it another RWC or is it ongoing success at home and in the 3N? If the Wallabies can't do it this RWC and key players leave to play in the NH domestic competitions, ARU are left with the unenviable position of trying to rebuild - again - whilst struggling against the other three major ballsports. It's a headache, that is for sure.

Well Ballboy, I think it's predictable that Link's name would be raised. He seems a good man. I'll be interested to see what he does with Qld this time around though. I saw him as a chance last time the Wallaby coaching job was advertised but he saw it differently (think I've got that right). Mmm interesting about Rod Mc. I reckon there's a lot of Rugby fans all over the planet who hope he will do well in Melbourne. Is he good enough for the modern game? Only time will tell. My gut tells me he will do just fine. And if he does make an impact, then I'd like to both see him & Link brought on board for the 2011 RWC campaign. David Nucifora was another who's name kept on being mentioned but these days I'm hearing less and less of him. I dunno what to make of him. Is he a good coach or not? His work at the Brumbies & Auckland make me wonder. What's he currently doing? Under 21's? As for overseas coaches, well a lot of who is available comes down to contracts but then I suppose if the ARU are keen enough then contracts can always be paid out. Who ever it is (and personally I'd like to see Robbie stay until after 2015), then I'd want them to add to the good work done by Robbie Deans and not take the Wallabies in some bizzar direction.

You need to take the longer view. France were smashed for years in the Five Nations. In fact, Italy has been comparatively successful. Six Nations membership has seen an explosion in the number of youth playing the game.

The headline for this article "Giteau to walk out on the wallabies" is a shocker. MG has laced up his boots 91 times for the country and a similar number in Super Rugby...that's great service to Australian rugby. Whether the rest of Australia loves him or hates him doesn't bother people in Canberra where he's a favoured son. We hope for one more great season from MG but whatever transpires this year, we wish him well for the future - au revoir giteau, un grand joueur de rugby!

The RWC is devaluing test rugby. Hopefully the return of tours in 2012 will reverse this distressing culture change

NZ will have a mass exodus as well... Maybe it will work in our favour!

well i only saw him playing for aus as i dont have fox and was pretty happy with him there even if he lacked talent at 5/8 (and he's now nowhere near as good as he was) he can't have been too bad at the force to still be picked for aus.

Frank, If Git's is reading this, he's welcome back at the Force whenever he's done in France. He was a legend. End of story.

If it's not Link, I'll eat my hat

who was the last Australian cricket player who played soley county cricket to get selected for the Australian team ?

how is that weakening the national side??? I'd suggest it's keeping the Wallabies at a higher level Actually your point makes no sense Ian...are you seriously comparing the standard of play between the SH & NH domestic & provincial comps? I'd take Super rugby over heineken cup anyday, & the NPC/Currie Cups over Top 14/Aviva/Magners as well. Would be nice to add the Oz comp as well, if we had one...guess we're treating Super rugby as that now.

Who do you think are the front runners Blinky? You'd have to start with Link and McQueen although would McQueen want to come back and do it again?

"If and when Cooper goes, that’s if he learns to tackle and league still want him, Toomua will take the reins at 10. Heard that here first about 5 weeks ago" ballboy, notice you DIDN'T say maybe... I'm not doubting that the kids got talent, but to say that he would walk into the 10 jersey, when you have the likes of BB and Beale in particular who would be better suited, I think is a bit of a stretch

I don't agree andrew G, some of the old farts may go north for cash but I get the feeling watching the young guns Beale, O'connor and QC etc on last year's NH tour that they are really starting to enjoy playing together for the Wallabies and they realise that something special might be building and they want to be part of it. With the ARU having some spare $ when gits et al move on the top bracket should be pretty well compensated and with the Lions to come in 13 and RWC in 15 I reckon they realise that sticking around could bring great rewards. In the end it could come down to whether R. Dean's contract is renewed because the young fella's have warmed to him. Here's hoping!

i think there is a fundamental difference between australia and say england chosing on home based talent. In england they will always have a strong domestic competition due to their population and wealth. Also players moving to france are accessable to coaches physically and remotely (ie in the same time zone). Alternatively if Australians are allowed to play in europe you may significantly weaken the domestic teams to the point that they are not competitive at S15 at all. You also make it harder for national coaches to manage players throughout the year from the other side of the world. Sth Africa interestingly is somewhere in between the two. which seems to fit with it being geographically closer to europe, in the same time zone and having more of a surfeit of club quality players.

Yep we are going to lose some important players after the RWC. That's life. However from where I'm sitting the most important thing to sort out will be the Wallaby coach post 2011. There's a right bun fight awaiting to happen. Who will coach is one of THE most important decisions and you just watch the ARU stuff it up. Reckon there will be a few players waiting on that result before resigning or trotting off overseas.