Should the Brumbies drop out of form Giteau?

Brumbies are playing to get the best result this year not for next year... Giteau starts at 10 for now...

Dibgy has one good game then is injured. He needs a new approach to using his body =n play...

Just as a matter of interest - when you write that he: "is more concerned about money & his ego rather than field performance. He is a very selfish player & person." What is the evidence to support this? Do you know him personally? Or is this just something you read somewhere?

I am no Gits fan - I would play Toomua before Gits anyday. Gits has lost it - he is more concerned about money & his ego rather than field performance. He is a very selfish player & person. I hope Deans does not include him in the Wallaby squad as he is not a team player. Barnes is a better player than Giteau and then there is the JoC or Rob Horne option at inside centre. Giteau has had his day in the sun and now it is time to move on - George Smith saw the writing on the wall but Giteau's ego does not allow him to see that his best are now well in the past.

Exactly my view PeterK. WG QC Digby JOC AAC Drew KB. Only problem there is both wingers here prefer the left but JOC needs to spend all season in the 12 shirt to get ready for the world cup. Berricks running game lacks penetration and Giteau is unfortunately a dinosaur at about 28. Hes been usurped by more creative and instinctive players.

Oh and its pretty tough to judge someone on trial form. The golden era Brumbies used to get thrased in trail matches... Its just to stretch the legs. Players like Toomua definitely dont want to show their hand in such fixtures

I like the look of Coleman too. I just feel that for Gits and his future - he really needs to knuckle down at No.12. It would also be great for Toomua to have that experience outside of him - because he wont have that next year... Give Toomua a season and let him develop with Larkham's coaching and Giteau's presence. Bring on Coleman to spark things up as required. Thats the best policy for the Brumbies (in my opinion), and the best for the Wallabies/Gits. I also agree that nobody should get walkups. However Smith was clearly superior to Salvi at No.7. Giteau as a player is a 'must include' along with AAC in the backline, but is he the standout at No.10 or No.12? I would argue that Toomua is the superior No.10. Coleman looks great, but you cant pick him on one performance over Giteau. As for Cooper, its was hardly a terrible performance. Keep in mind that the pack was monstered, the Force backs were practically standing in the Queensland backline, and the ball was extremely slippery due to it being 1000 degrees. So long as link has not tried to be too clever by changing their attacking style - he will do just fine this season.

Dave - you're right. I was backing Toomua as a potential 10 for the RWC. That was before the season started. He didn't play well in the trails and Gits played better than him so deserves his spot. I also hadn't seen Coleman play. Granted he's only played one game but he comes with huge raps and I'd like to see how he goes there. I'm certainly not saying Coleman is ready for Wallaby selection - far from it. But if he proves a strong combo with Gits at 10 and AAC at 13 then I have no problem. And I agree that Toomua is the future at the Brumbies but that doesn't mean he gets an automatic walkup. Look at Salvi - he's potentially the future openside for the Brumbies but had to wait years for G. Smith to retire. Things do change Dave. Look at Cooper for a start. He was the golden boy during the S14 last year and probably deserved that rap. He was far from a Test 5/8 against the Force last weekend. And Ito be clear, I'm not suggesting for a second that Giteau is or should be in the Wallabies. He needs to prove himself but he's started pretty well this season. Well, that's what the experts at the ground think. The bloggers north or ACT don't see it that way. I wouldn't even consider JOC at 10. He needs space - put him back out on the wing or at least at 12 for the Wallabies but at the moment he has to play 10 for the Force.

If Barnes kicking stays poor he should not be in the Wallabies starting team. I would move JoC to 12 and he would also be the kicker. This means Mitchell and Ioane would be the wings. Barnes to the bench.

If Gits wants a shot at the WC then he has to play No.12. Right now, Barnes is ahead of him, while JOC must be strongly considered for the position (in reality, I think he's the best prospect of all 3). Cooper WILL be No.10 for the Wallabies. If he doesn't play, then it doesn't matter how well Mitchell, Beale, Digby are playing - they wont receive the quality ball that only Cooper can give. I think we have all established that Toomua is the future for the Brumbies. His passing game is far superior to Gits, and he is an organiser of a backline. Ballboy - you were ranting about Toomua getting picked at No.10 for the Wallabies at the WC late last year! Now you are happy for him to sit on the bench at Super level? Play Gits for 60mins at No.12, then bring on Coleman to attack the tired defence. Giteau can then either go to the bench or slot into flyhalf.

That's a bizarre statement Gary. He's decided to leave at the end of the season so drop him now for the interests of the team? Are you serious. McGrath, Gilly, Waugh all let us know when their last game would be. Should we have dropped them? Smith did it last year. Drop him? You tell your boss you're going to resign in three months. Get the sack for the good of the company? I've read some pretty silly things in my time but that has to be up there. And Jameswm - your comparing Gits to Cooper this weekend seeing how Gits will go against decent opposition. Last I saw the Chiefs had 3-4 AB's in their backline. Cooper was up against JOC who is admitedly a very good player but when was the last time he played 10. And Fairbanks and Inman??? One was lucky to be on the bench for the Brumbies and the other has been plucked out of grade rugby in Sydney. Let's see how Cooper hides when he comes up against some real talent. He's at the back boys. Way down there where he doesn't have to make a tackle.

Giteau did play well. But did not really deserve MoM. List his achievements, he made a lot of half breaks, REALLY! He did not ONCE actually make a break, so he almost did something, WOW! He did not set up any tries. He did not score any. He did offload in the tackle a couple of times, that really deserves MoM when you consider 6 lineouts were stolen from the chiefs and the architect of that was Chisholm, also the scrum was smashed. Its beyond me how a forward didnt get MoM. Of course he should be in the starting XV for the Brumbies because he is one of their best players, still his best position is 12. He is NOT good enough to start for the Wallabies though.

Agreed. Would be nice to have him on the bench to sub in for a winger late in the game though maybe. Would seem a more sensible way to introduce a guy to the next level of rugby too.

Whether Giteau's form is good or bad is irrelevant, he is signed for Toulon after this season and now is the time to bring on your understudies that will take over from him, like Toomua and Lealiifano when fit. Giteau should be used as a mentor and as a advisor to these players and his game time should be limited to when these boys are getting tired in the last twenty minutes of a match. The situation will arise when he leaves if the present course is continued in that the Brumbies will not have an experienced flyhalf to direct traffic for the next couple of years and they will be on a re-building process again. Why not utilize this time that Giteau has left to teach others in the interests of the team not the person. Or would that be too big an ask. That to me is logic but seldom have I seen logic used when coaching super rugby teams (aka Mackenzie leaving Higginbothom on the bench and playing Houston in the Reds match).

That's a crock paradox. The Sydney press just doesn't bow down to him and consider him untouchable. It was the same with Gregan - the Canberrans got defensive on the slightest criticism of the bloke, even when it was warranted. Gregan was awful his last 2-3 years, predictable and shying away from contact to "preserve his body". I was a huge fan before that, but I rate them on their performances, not an aura.

What a complete farce that was - Giteau runner-up. Did he really win man of the match on the weekend? He was busy, but Giteau's skills set pales in comparison to Cooper's, who also reads the play better. He was improved on last year, but he was very averags last year. Let's see how he goes against tough opposition, and whether he reverts to type and sits back in the pocket with kicking his first instinct.

Giteau had a good game on the weekend, and the Brumbies don't have anything better, so no, they shouldn't drop him. But Gits is still a rubbish player and has been for a while, it's just die-hard Brumbies fans that refuse to see how bad he is.

I agree with what others are saying. Leave Gits alone already. He went okay at 10 and played well enough for MOM. The post match interview touched on the fact that he has worked in the off season to recover from quad strain (think I've got that right) and he showed touches of his old self with half breaks that he may have pulled off at 12.

It’s blatant Brumby bashing... Giteau played well for round 1. He’ll do better this week with Coleman. Toomuas' and Colemans’ time will come and they'll both get plenty this year. With Lealiifano coming back its good for players to compete for starting positions, Giteau included, it will lift the work rate of each player and bring out their best. Same goes for the Brumbies props, wingers and No.8. Realistically when you have a backline line up of Gregan Larkham Giteau Mortlock and all form the same Super team who have had seasons to built understanding you going to get positive results. Each player will look better. You can't hold the fact that Giteau no longer has these guys playing with against him. He is a solid player and one of the best inside backs in Australia.

I'm not a Giteau fan but credit where it is due. He's done well the last few weeks. Maybe now he has taken the pressure of his own future now he can relax and express himself a little more. He certainly seemed to have better energy last week. But he's still a pretty poor option at first reciever because he will only ever be an alternative not a mainstay. Just not good enough there for all seasons. It's not the length of his kick or speed of his pass. He just doesn't have a first recievers instincts. Also well done to Coleman but I am afraid that his size will find him out sooner or later. Hate to imagine him being smashed by SBW or Nonu. You can fit a small man in somewhere, esp out wide but most Oz teams and the Wallabies already have a full contingent of small men already. Imagine running at Giteau Barnes Coleman or Cooper Giteau Coleman. Would make for a very long afternoon.