Matt Giteau’s role in Australia’s World Cup challenge has been clouded by his omission from the Wallabies’ squad to play South Africa on Saturday, while the stocks of Brumbies teammate Pat McCabe continue to soar.
Giteau, who started at five-eighth in Sunday’s upset loss to Samoa, couldn’t get a start in his other regular spot of inside centre or even on the bench with Quade Cooper coming in at pivot and Pat McCabe staying in the No.12 jersey.
Several frontliners who didn’t play against Samoa were recalled including halfback Will Genia, fullback Kurtley Beale, winger and goalkicker James O’Connor and openside flanker David Pocock.
Giteau, who will play with French club Toulon after the World Cup, was a near-permanent fixture in the starting side until recently.
However, the 92-Test veteran ended last year against France on the bench behind Berrick Barnes at inside centre and Cooper at five-eighth.
Coach Robbie Deans was characteristically cagey when asked about how Giteau’s omission would impact on his World Cup prospects and if he still had a big part to play in the team.
“Gits is part of the squad so he has a big role to play. We prepare as one and next week is another week,” Deans said.
“We’re presuming nothing going forward. If you look at the way things have unfolded, you just can’t presume anything.
“Matt will obviously want a role going forward. He has a role going forward. We don’t know exactly what that will entail as yet in terms of playing, that will unfold.”
McCabe, 23, has made just two Test appearances and played most of his rugby for the Brumbies out wide, although he also had some time in the centres.
Deans said McCabe did well against Samoa and had the potential to be a regular Test centre.
“He’s well suited to the midfield. He’s played most of the football on the edge, whether it be wing or fullback,” Deans said.
“He’s got speed and he’s also got size and he’s a good decision maker.”
Giteau aside, the other stalwart missing from the run-on side to play the Springboks is lock Nathan Sharpe.
Sharpe and debutant Sitaleki Timani were replaced by the Queensland duo of James Horwill and Rob Simmons.
“They (Horwill and Simmons) are fresh. It’s a short turnaround, so they have that benefit. They also have the advantage of being a combination in recent times,” Deans said.
Deans dismissed the suggestion South Africa was understrength, despite leaving many of their star players at home due to fitness concerns, and said he expected a lot from the Springboks.
“It’s not an understrength side. They’ve been preparing and are very focused.”
Happy with the versatility in his backline, Deans was comfortable with having five forwards on his bench.
Wallabies team: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (capt), James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu. Res: Saia Faingaa, Pekahou Cowan, Nathan Sharpe, Matt Hodgson, Scott Higginbotham, Nick Phipps, Anthony Faingaa.
Capital
Guest
From Barnes - the final word (for now) http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/berrick-barnes-says-matt-giteau-is-the-likelier-to-claim-contentious-wallabies-world-cup-squad-berth/story-e6frf55l-1226099222901
Capital
Roar Guru
Damo - I am not a fan But ... the guy busts his butt to play good rugby. I have always admired players who give 100% and even as a pretty strong critic - this guy is without question one of a handful who bleeds for the jumper. And - even as a strong critic, I would hate to see his career end on this note. I have some sympathy for the guy who has done everything he could to find his best form in 3 or 4 years, and now may not have a role in the RWC. That would be a tough end for anyones career. Those issues aside, I think his style of rugby may not cut it when we have playmakers like Cooper, Beale, JOC who chance their arm. A tough call however you look at it.
Damo
Guest
That's interesting Capital. I think that Deans may be planning a change in style in the midfield. Away from the Kiwi Tradition of 'second five'. With mcCabe and Faiinga he has two running /hard hitting centres. This is a good option against NZ's centres. But I think he may also have mcCabe as an option to drop out to wing in attack so that JOC can attack from 12. Anyway, maybe we can win without Giteau. I won't complain if we do. But I think that insulting a 92 test veteran who is still giving his best (like some do, Mathew Skellett being just one) does nothing to assist the Wallabies who may use the said 'has been' off the bench at a crucial time.
Damo
Guest
I look forward to Giteau's comments on your performance in your next game, Matthew Skellet.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I think "someone who cares " should ring up the Toulouse Club powers-that-be and warn them they are getting a DUD with a capital "D" :-)
Rugby Diehard
Guest
"Ironically, the Reds victory this year has produced somewhat of a quandary for Deans" Good comments Cros I totally agree. If he can add some more starch to the enthusiasm of the Reds forwards and some good straight runners to the backline to compliment Cooper, JOC and Beale's jigging runs he will have a sensational team capable of winning the RWC. This is one of the main reasons I like Mccabe for one in the Wallaby backline.
Rugby Diehard
Guest
Dexter - I can't agree in the slightest that Elsom is a grafter. If you mean be saying he is a grafter in that he is rarely first to a ruck and rarely effective when he gets there, has terrible ball skills, tucks the ball under his arm making it virtually impossible to have any option other than to run then I would agree. Higs has dsiplayed superior enthusiasm, pace, strength, agression and (particularly of late) skills. Elsom is not picked as a tight forward, he is picked as a damaging runner and a lead-from the front big man and for his national side he has never truly produced the performances I think we all believe he is probably capable of (despite IMO poor fundamental skills). I don't think a change of leadership at this stage would be damaging to the Wallabies. In fact appointing one of the Reds leaders may just send the right message to other Wallabies of what is really expected of them - ie perform!!
Capital
Guest
Just read Deans interview in SMH His opinion: When Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was asked yesterday why Giteau could not even make the bench, he said: ''We've gone for a combination which we believe will be good for us, and we also believe we have the capability within the existing group to cover all those potential permutations around No.10 and 12. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/beginning-of-the-end-for-giteau-as-selectors-stick-with-mccabe-20110719-1hnb7.html#ixzz1Sdgog7TZ
Capital
Guest
Fair comments Damo
Damo
Guest
Capital and Rev, Giteau for all his faults is talked about more than any one OZ player. There is a reason for this I think. He is a complex person whose personality divides opinion. I have no argument with any who note his loss of pace and the absent line breaking of yesteryear. There are clearly options in the squad who outpoint him on certain criteria, important criteria. However, games are won or lost on the cumulative effect of quality decisions. Sure we have options on the back line and on the bench but keeping an open mind about Giteau's possible contribution is a quality decision. We don't have to justify the promotion of younger dynamos by deathriding Gits. I have a hunch he will be coming off the bench for a big play in a big game sometime before Christmas.
Rugby Reg
Guest
yeh probably agree about giteau. He would make a good sub, especially in the wc were his experience would be more than useful. We just need to downgrade his ego first. Now that is happening he can make a solid contribution in the wc.
Capital
Guest
Damo I think any player who was criticised for one performance would feel hard done by. The criticisms are not based on the Samoa game. The form and subsequent criticisms of Matt from my perspective (Brumbies fan) have been observed this year at S15, and in this test match. I am not a fan, and he is not a run on 10 or 12 IMO. I think there are three better options at 10 and four at 12. His best role is as a utility, but this also assumes that players who are rated above him - such as Barnes are not able to play.
Damo
Guest
I'm going against the stream here. Giteau should be in the mix. His game is well known so he does not need to play every game. He could be a solid (as opposed to a super) sub. He does not deserve the cri he's got on this site for failing to save a team that was on skids from kick off. And even if Deans does bypass him he does not deserve the poison he cops on this site.
Capital
Guest
Thanks Sam A good perspective, and nice to see that he had the same opinion as Deans. I like Deans as a coach, I am quite confident that we will perform well in the challenges of both 3N and RWC. Thanks again
dwc
Guest
I agree and as an ABs fan I would now be very pissed off with Deans if i was a green and gold man... I saw him play for Canterbury in the 1980s and he was stolid, dour, and unremarkable as a player. Surely he should be adding some Reds like spirit and momentum to the Wallabies and picking players with spark and fire. If the Wallabies dont make the RWC Final, and they should get there, Deans has to go. you guys have the cattle but I can't believe some of these Deans selections. Australian sporting teams are unbeatable when they have confidence and their tails are up...unless Deans has a master plan up his sleeve, i fear you ardent Wallabies fans could be very disappointed. I remain bewildered that Rocky is still captain, Horwill would be brilliant....
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
Capital I thought you'd like this. Robbie Deans received support from an unlikely source today. In an interview Graham Henry said : "Robbie has got a bit of stick by the media which I think is questionable stick," said Henry when questioned on the match's repercussions for international rugby. "Like, how does he play those Reds players? Throw them out there again, kill them? Or be pragmatic? He was hoping he'd do the business without those Reds players, and it didn't happen that way. "So he gets a lot of stick for making the right decision. It's easy to sit back here and criticise him. We don't have to do the job. So I've got some sympathy for him. "But in the long term it won't do the Australians any harm. It will give them an extra edge, extra determination. They've had a wakeup call, and it just shows that any side in the world's top 10 can do the job. You've just got to prepare properly. "There's probably a bit of a parallel on Friday night for us." Then he succinctly summed up the challenge for himself, Deans and de Villiers by re-phrasing his warning over player workload – a big factor in the decision to allow those players not required on Friday home for a break. "I don't think some people understand that. They just think these guys are machines — you shove in the batteries, charge them up and throw them out there. That's bullshit. They're just going to fall over. "We've got to be sensible, work with individuals and get the best out of them." Regardless of your opinions of Henry as a coach, he's a straight talker.
jameswm
Guest
If fit I'd go 6 Qlders, 5 Tahs, 2 Force (JOC at 12) and two ??s, being 5 and 13. I'd probably go Vicks (if he's shown enough by then) or Simmons and A Fainga'a/AAC. So could be 6-8 Qlders, 5-6 Tahs, and 0-1 Brumbies. If Barnes plays 12 and JOC wing, one of Mitchell and Ioane drops to the bench. I don't know what to make of Barnes's chances yet. Qld Slipper Horwill Higgers Genia Cooper Ioane NSW TPN Benn Robbo Palu Mitchell Beale Makes no Rebels and only one possible Brumby starter (AAC).
Rugby Reg
Guest
in fact the more i think about it the Suncorp AB's game is probably the most crucial. If we win that we will realy be troubling the AB's come the Auckland game. While the Boks and thus 3N's are important, beeting the All Blacks is critical, if we are in with a shot at Bill. I won't be suprised if that team (v AB's) has a distinctive QLD flavour to it. AFinger, higgers, samo, slipper?, quade, ione, genia, horwil, simmons ect what do you think?
jameswm
Guest
Guys, it can't be our first string team till the wounded Tahs (TPN, Palu, Mitchell, Benn Robbo and Barnes) are fit. I dare say all 5 would start if fit and in form. We have no clear option at 13. I think Ant Fainga'a (nice bloke - bought raffle tickets from my kid last Sat!) really deserves a shot, esp at 13. I think Deans is doing this: - seeing if Alexander is up to playing tight head, on the basis that Slipper is our no.1 no.3 - Letting Kepu show he could replace Robinson at LH - sending Vicks back to club rigby to get more game time - giving Simmons a (nother) chance to prove he can cut it at test level, after another solid season at Super level. - Sharpe - well, someone has to be on the bench - Samo and McCalman - don't know. Maybe he thinks Samo's too loose, maybe he's showing loyalty to McCalman and giving him the chance to show he must be there. In the back row right now though I'd have Pocock, Palu, Higgers, Samo, Beau and Rocky ahead of him. - centres - giving them a chance. I do hope JOC gets a decent chance at 12, as a backline with Genia-Cooper-JOC-Beale at 9-10-12-15 would be incredible. Maybe he'll move JOC to 12 after the WC, but why not give it a go now? How is JOC not up to it physically? He's very strong in contact.
jameswm
Guest
Gavin Our best 6-7-8 combination is Higgers-Pocock-Palu, assuming Palu gets near his best. Palu plays tight and is a hard yards man and Pocock is on the ball, so they can cover for Higgers occasionally roving wide. If Palu's out, I'd go Samo at 8. I don't think Higgers is an 8. Not big enough, plays too loose. 6 is a better loose cannon spot. Deans won't drop Rocky though. It annoys me when coaches won't pick on form.