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Ever had a younger sibling who gets away with everything? No matter what you did to impress, the smallest infraction against your parents values would get the sternest condemnations?
But all the while your younger brother or sister could legitimately be named an agent of chaos and would be told they were growing into their potential.
That is the world of the older sibling. In effort to outshine , many become uber achievers and perfectionists. Often with the lessons learnt in early parenting, a softening with age and wisdom gathered, means that the younger children are given a more nurtured upbringing.
When the softening is overcooked, this produces self-entitled brats.
Last week a World XV was announced that would take on the Springboks on June seventh. Nick Mallet, the former Springboks mentor, has shown excitement at picking players that are in form in the European competition.
When the team was announced, there were three Australians in the squad: James O Connor, Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau. This will have Gits and JOC reunited for the first time since 2011.
Giteau and O’Connor are together again. If ever there was a younger-older brother relationship in Australian rugby, it was what these two seemed to have.
In the early a days of the Western Force, the accomplished veteran ‘Gits’ was the back line general, mentoring the younger but no less talented newcomer O’Connor.
There was undoubtedly a leadership role that Giteau enjoyed as ‘Kid Dynamite’ frequently turned in man-of-the-match performances that had him single-handedly dragging the Force back into games that were deemed lost.
O’ Connor grew in stature and confidence and the sight of them linking up and running towards defenders with ball in hand always had the commentators salivating.
The selection to World XV has been timely for O’Connor, certainly helping him rebuild his much maligned ‘brand’. It has also been rumoured that he may have found a home at the Reds next year.
Whether JOC has served his penance in full will be answered soon enough as there is no doubt that his precocious talent will find its way back to Wallaby contention in due time.
He has a lot left to give Australian rugby apart from Swisse vitamin adverts. His current boss at the London Irish, Australian Brian Smith, believes he will go on to earn in excess of 100 Tests.
Ewen Mckenzie came out last week and said that JOC would not be considered for this year’s Tests, even if he signed with Queensland. There is still, however, a sense of inevitability about seeing him back in Wallaby colours.
The ARU’s rhetoric has always had a feeling of lenience towards O’Connor that the Pope would be proud of.
Do I disagree with their lenience? Not at all. O’Connor is the second youngest player to earn a Test cap, younger than the mighty Campese. He was thrust into the international arena with all the good and bad that comes with it at such a young age.
We were bound to see infractions of the nature that he provided. From Ricky Ponting to James Magnusson, we have stories of superstars who forget themselves while in the throes of youths impetuousness. In the above two examples, a kick in arse was required to bring them back to earth.
As the Superboy morphs into a a Superman, the ARU will show patience, for that is how we treat the youngest child.
Which is why Matt Giteau must still be shaking his head. Although I am sure is comfortable at Toulon ($710K being the rumoured salary at eight per cent tax), Georgina Robinson’s well-timed article in the Sydney Morning Herald August last year drew attention to the fact that the best Australian inside centre is currently playing overseas.
Although Mckenzie has said that he is shutting no doors, it is obvious that there is little interest among the ARU to see Giteau back in Wallaby contention.
Why?
Giteau had no alcohol-fuelled infractions, missed no team photos, hadn’t destabilised Super Rugby franchises, didn’t assault team mates and left his neighbours laptops alone. In many ways he was the role model to young players.
He was simply cast off with George Smith just prior to the 2011 World Cup because he didn’t get along with Robbie Deans.
He was unceremoniously dumped in favour of players with virtually no experience. A champion of 92 Tests was shown the door, although he had a track record of respectful relationships with many big names in Australian Rugby.
Eddie Jones, George Gregan, Steve Larkham, Stirling Mortlock, Nathan Sharpe, John Connolly and Rod Kafer all spoke out about his strength of character when he was not selected.
As a Wallaby supporter I was stunned. Although his form in 2011 had not been his usual game-breaking standard, this was a man that had been compared favourably to Dan Carter.
He had been nominated for IRB player of the year. Jonathan Davies, the Welsh great, predicted him to be player of the World Cup in 2007. He was the best of a bad bunch in the 2011 Brumbies backline and the selectors still took Pat Mccabe and Adam Ashley Cooper.
McCabe over Giteau? Anthony Fainga over Giteau? The fact that the Wallabies clearly missed him in the last World Cup campaign added insult to injury. The greatest inside centre to have played for Australia, Tim Horan said “If there was ever a player from the current generation that I would want to play with, it would be Matt Giteau.”
It has been argued by some that Giteau is now past it. At 32, he has been ranked in the top-five players in the European competition for the last two seasons. Johnny Wilkinson, playing his last season in Toulon with Giteau, singled him out as a player who has had a great influence on him in the twilight of his career.
English fly-half Toby Flood expressed astonishment at the fact he was not playing Test football, due to his performance in the Heineken Cup last season.
English commentators Paul Ackford and Mike Catt marvelled at the depth (and arrogance) of Australian selectors that ignored the “supremely talented Matt Giteau”.
Former French coach and current Toulon coach Bernard Laporte hailed him in April as “a great attacking player, very explosive with good vision” and credited him with being instrumental to the club’s push for a Heineken Cup double.
To say he still is world class is an understatement.
As much as O’Connor’s talent is acknowledged, Giteau’s is understated. As much as JOC’s mistakes are mitigated, Gits’ are vilified. His missed conversion against Scotland in 2010 and embarrassed laugh afterwards was completely blown out of proportion.
For that is how it is for the oldest child.
Although Deans is gone, there has been no move from the ARU or rugby commentators to right the wrongs of the treatment of Giteau.
The way the ARU treated a 92-Test great can still be corrected, like they attempted to do with George Smith. It may take some convincing to lure Giteau back, as he would no doubt still hurt from the treatment he received.
His Twitter account has shown like any outcast he is wounded – but also wants to come back. If he is back at his best, why would we not want him back in Super Rugby and Wallaby contention?
I agree that there is no player that is bigger than the game, yet Giteau was not a self-entitled brat that relied on talent to justify his off field behaviour. He was disillusioned high achiever that got kicked out of home.
I think its about time time to put a spirit level on the standards and welcome both of the brothers back.
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.