Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell are “very close to getting a recall” for Australia’s rugby World Cup campaign, according to former Wallabies skipper George Smith.
Smith, Australia’s second most-capped forward behind Nathan Sharpe, is considered less likely to break back into Michael Cheika’s squad but believes his fellow European-based Australians are well-placed to pull on the famous jersey once again.
Australia have relaxed their selection policy to consider overseas-based players for the first time, but only those with 60 or more caps.
Smith more than qualifies owing to his startling 111-Test career but the 34-year-old may not squeeze into Cheika’s plans.
“I think the Australia Rugby Union have shown some good forward-thinking decisions there with the new criteria to come in,” Smith told PA.
“To play 60 Test matches is not an easy challenge to achieve in Australia.
“And to have the long service as Wallabies who do meet that criteria I think it’s great they are rewarded with an opportunity to play overseas but also keep that connection with the Wallabies.”
Giteau and Mitchell have helped Toulon to a third-straight European crown this season, and could well now be primed to end their Wallabies exile.
Giteau has not featured for Australia since being dropped by then-Wallabies boss Robbie Deans for the 2011 World Cup.
That move prompted his Toulon switch, but after four years in the wilderness he could be brought back into the fold.
Mitchell joined the French powerhouse in 2013, well aware his Test career would be up in smoke, but now he too is back in consideration.
Smith retired from Test rugby in 2010 and signed for Toulon before embarking on a two-year stint in Japan.
The Brumbies signed Smith back on a short-term contract in 2013, however, and later that year the combative flanker returned to Australia’s Test team to face the touring British and Irish Lions.
While Smith is ready to champion the cause of his former Wallabies teammates for a Test recall, he was less forthcoming on his own situation.
“Look I think it’s great for players like Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell who qualify,” said Smith.
“They’ve played particularly well for Toulon this year, highlighted in the fact they won the Champions Cup against Clermont.
“So I think those two are very close to getting a recall.”
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
Giteau's versatility plays to his advantage, but he also hasn't player halfback for a number of years. I'd play him at 12.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Thanks Mike. Though you allude to match 3 in which Smith suffered a sickening head clash in the first few minutes and then was disgracefully allowed to re-enter the fray shortly thereafter. That he returned at all was a testament to his great toughness and also a huge indictment on the concussion testing process. Smith went on to have a typically solid test without the signature "George Smith juggernaut" moments that make his normal highlight reel. Smith's re-entry to test rugby was delayed by a late injury in a season in which he dominated the competition from 7, was the form openside of the Australian conference and Robbie Dean's and most rugby pundits first pick if fit for the B&I Lions series. Hardly the basis to discount 110 other tests + current form.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Mike, I think you are pretty much correct regarding how (I suspect) Cheika will be viewing the international options.
PeterK
Roar Guru
a large reason for that is we have players chosen for work rate over power and strength. Simmons, Carter and Fardy. Replace Carter with Skelton, Fardy with Timani. Hooper with Pocock and we could compete in the collisions.
Mike
Guest
I would see each of these three as just possible candidates for an injury replacement spot. Smith is not going to shift Hooper and Pocock, and Gill has put up his hand for next cab off the rank. But Smith is very versatile and Cheika might consider him as injury replacement for No 8 where we lack depth. Giteau has a chance at No 10 if Foley or Cooper are injured (although CLL looked good when he played 10), and a slightly better chance at No 12 - Beale is not playing well, Toomua and CLL have been solid but not much more, JOC has no time there and Kerevi looking better all the time but no test experience. Mitchell probably has the best chance because there are so many players who have positives and negatives. I could see him in the mix for about four spots with Folau, Speight, JOC, Horne, Shipperley and a couple of others.
Mike
Guest
Smith has no hope of getting into the squad as a 7. He played against B&I Lions in 2013 and was reasonable, at best. If Hooper or Pocock are injured (Lord forbid) then it is possible but I still think unlikely. However, he may have a chance of call up as a 6/8.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Of course, even if Smith were - somehow - to be in contention, there is clearly no way we could effectively utilise two world class 7's in the one match day squad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXLYBa5YIqw
Crash Ball2
Guest
I get your inference Uncle - very clever - GS will be too old, too slow, won't keep up with the pace of the game, will struggle to make any real impact playing real rugby against real rugby players, has absolutely no pedigree coming back from years twiddling his thumbs in the lower leagues. Good point. Well made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E_WFAqi_vE
Crash Ball2
Guest
Actually Bakkies, it would certainly be a departure from their current selection modus operandi - but the Bokke team is exactly the type of forward playing group that could easily reap the greatest benefit from a Michael Hooper. Brussouw and Hooper are similar in that many (for Hooper: "all") of their pilfers come from pace to the ruck. This is where the similarities end. Brussouw plays big, has a strength over the ball that is phenomenal and does a lot of his attacking work at the coal face. Whilst it would be a gargantuan effort to unseat Schalk, within the rest of the Bokke forward pack you already have world class jackals, aggressive, body shifting ruck monkeys, big defensive hitters, great scrummagers and exceptional lineout winners. The areas that Hooper doesn't provide great impact are covered. What you would then get is a real point of difference: first body to the breakdown, a wide running, fantastically illusive forward capable of making clean line breaks who is faster than the rest of the team over the first 40 (at a guess), a tireless workhorse and the missing link between an exceptional forward pack and a hugely talented, often under-utilised backline overly reliant on the Garry Owen / regather / repeat playbook. Hypothetical through it is, for these reasons, I'd contend that the Springboks are a team for whom Michael Hooper would be an ideal first choice. The contrasting Australian forward pack provide the reason why Pocock / Smith are our best shots Let me know your thoughts.
Uncle Eric
Guest
Bring back Mark Ella I say, Wallabies will win for sure.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Leaning to White and Lealiifano at the moment but not really sold on anyone right now.
Not Bothered
Guest
Ahhh no.
Crash Ball2
Guest
No assumption of sodden ground. But I certainly expect the likes of England in pool matches to play a muscular set piece and breakdown focused, big tournament-aligned test match that has proven successful against the Wallabies countless times. And you are right, our tight forwards don't pack the punch of a range of Northern (and Southern) teams. If selected, Palu, TPN or Toomua may land the occasional rib rattler but for the most part we lose the collision to aggressive opposition forwards hunting in packs. The multi-phase backwards roll from each gain line is then usually only halted by infringing or conceding a try. Our wider starting team doesn't include non-traditional pilferers like Bismarck, Duane Babyface Vermulean or O'Connell. And our current 7 is not an on-baller. This can improve, but it is unlikely to be fixed come RWC. Our defence requires danger. Pocock and Smith can provide that game changing threat. Spongey grounds or cake tin dry, I'd select them both.
Pickett
Guest
Giteau is a big match choker.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Who are your halves Jez?
Not Bothered
Guest
9) Genia 10) Foley 11) Kuridrani 12) Giteau 13) Kerevi 14) Speight 15) Folau 21) Phipps 22) AAC 23) Beale
Bakkies
Guest
It's really a combined Ulster and Leinster squad due to Munster and Connacht's matches last Sat and Sunday. There's a lot of thumbing the nose at Matt O'Connor in some of Schmidt's selections. Smith is on the bench
Bakkies
Guest
Thinking that the pitches will be soft in September and October will be a mistake. Unlike previous northern RWCs which went in to November. Cheika should know this as well.
Bakkies
Guest
A lot of other teams won't pick him because he seagulls out in the centres. The Boks won't pick Brüssouw and he does what Hooper doesn't do. Not many Aussie tight five forwards are as strong as Best, Hibbard, O'Connell, Bismarck, etc. Aussie tight five forwards should watch O'Connell's turnover against the Ospreys on his own goal line. Won a penalty as well.
jeznez
Roar Guru
He makes my first choice 11-15. 11. Mitchell 12. Kerevi 13. Kuridrani 14. O'Connor 15. Folau Kerevi as a debutant and O'Connor not being in the greatest form are probably the more debateable selections but I think JOC certainly is worth persisting with. Firstly due to past performance and secondly to add a level of playmaking ability outside the halves. Having him able to come off his wing would give us greater options in attack and complement the hard running of the centres.