Giteau confident of Bledisloe victory

Oh dear. Do you think Giteau is the only international to have played in 2011? Giteaus form was better in 2015 than 2011 when he was dropped. He won awards for being the best in his club comp since then. In club rugby he has excelled. The game has not moved on from him or or many others of his age (Nonu, C.Smith, McCaw, D.Carter etc). He is a modern rugby player because hes been playing the game the whole time. Giteau played international rugby in 2015 in a WC final and the game has not changed since then. All people like you do is target guys like Giteau because their circumstances are different and you want to find a crack in their armour to justify your preconceptions and biases. You make up reasons why they shouldnt be selected in a state of delusional importance, as if the elite in the game cant understand things like you do. Perhaps Cheika didnt read McCaws book either. Well Im just going to tell you straight. Your opinion is coming from a lack of understanding, not from superior understanding.

Know better? Absolutely not, you are completely delusional.

know better yes. do better no.

I apologize, McC, as I’m somewhat bemused but perhaps I live in an intellectual malaise. If you don’t believe the bar has been raised since 2011, then possibly you haven’t purchased Richie McCaw’s book or possibly watched the NZ super teams at play. All professional sports personal continue to advance and evolve, that is the nature of their profession. Further, I was never portentous in my remarks, Giteau was a great rugby player but at 33 and playing for a number of years in France, he is no-longer front line Wallaby material. To be fair his performance last year in England was quotidian and he often struggled with the pace of the game. Agree, Beale is growing in confidence and will be missed but playing Giteau at 10 would delight the Kiwis. When adjudicating on Cheika, the coming weeks will be the acid test because from an OZ perspective his player selections, game plan and general coaching performance against Eddie, left much to be desired. Although, concede Sydney is very winnable and the Wallabies must target the home test. However, Cheika has tired Mick Byrne as the Wallaby skills coach, the gent worked with the AB’s for a number of years. He is using reasonably new technology to assist players elevate their field awareness and strengthen defensive responsibilities. Plus has folk increasing player fitness and recovery; does this sound like a coach who believes we need to play 2011, rugby?

Giteau there might be a reason you have not won a Bledisloe. You are not good enough and should not be included. It is time to blood a new backline that can best the abs

Sydney's always tough and it will be again. It seems the Wallabies know how to get the jump on the ABs for the first test of the year, and with a nothing to lose approach combined with the ABs wanting to assert some authority the wallabies may make some inroads until that eventually happens. That could mean a win in Sydney but Wellington and Eden park should be more BAU by then. Just looks a very tired Wallaby selection with a mix of old hands combined with some regular campaigners who are having average seasons. Moore as captain no longer inspires and frankly only becomes interesting when he starts talking to the ref. Part of last years success is due to Foleys performance and as we've seen already at Super and test level a successful 9/10 combo is a must. Phipps and Foley both need to lift their games.

And "if Dagg has to start". Dagg will start be cause Dagg is in NZs best team.

NZs midfield is the best in the world. Who on earth could say they have a better centre pairing than SBW and Moala? I wouldnt trade our centre depth for any other countries.

The modern game? The modern game has not changed since Giteau played in 2011. Nor has it changed since last year. Everybody thinks they know better than those who live and breath the game. Do you think Cheika doesnt pay enough attention to notice the game has changed. Giteau should be in the team imo. Hes a fantastic rugby brain, a good defender and a general that Australia needs. I would play him at 10 if Beale was fit but without Beale I would use him at 12.

Great input mate. Over 100 tests to his name.

As an AB fan, I am not confident about the Sydney game and am not giving the ABs more than a fifty percent chance of winning that. I fear our midfield is very average atm, and Crotty is arguably the weakest AB midfielder we have had since Mayahofler. If Israel Dagg has to start due to Savea and Naholo being out of sorts in recent weeks, then you know the wallabies have a great chance to pull it off. I think the addition of Douglas and Kepu will bring a bit of mongrel back to the Aussie pack and Gietau will add much needed creativity to the backline. It's going to be too close to call imo.

Agreed but jeez I'd love to beat them.

Yes that's a bit silly. He doesn't go anywhere near that. Isn't putting up a great fight what a zebra might do before the Lion takes another bite? ?

puff, firstly I am a kiwi and of course I will be supporting the All Blacks but I have to say, I enjoyed reading about Matt Giteau answering the call from Cheika to play for Australia. We now know he has given up significant earnings (unless compensated in full by the ARU) to wear the Gold jersey ... good to see that representing a country is placed above monetary considerations. This has got nothing to do as with how fans perceive his present ability or the contribution he will or will not make, but more about the mark of a man who respects the country who gave him his opportunities in his chosen career. Good to see.

It costs nothing to dream. Matt Giteau is a Wallaby veteran who could have represented OZ many more times, had he not been so forthright. A Wallaby stalwart is a poor choice of words, he maybe athletic but muscular or burly, he is not. Although he is appreciated in France, at 33 the modern game has changed in dynamics, it is much faster, more physical and playing behind an OZ pack will offer little rest bite for his style of play. Agree, Cheika has been given a bonus of two weeks to discover some magic but in retrospect, no less is the sum requirement. The first test in Sydney offers prospects but I don’t believe we have the game plan or player depth to trouble the kiwis. The remaining two in NZ, Wellington & Auckland unfortunately make the 2016 Bledisloe an elusive prize, this year. Matt is obviously an optimist, as I don’t believe the returning futurity, will or can deliver, the level of intensity needed to disrupt the astonishing AB game management capability.

This muppett has zero success against the AB`S,..and if he play this little old nuffie will be steamrolled..

Headline is a bit of a reach. How do you get from "we’ve definitely got the team to put up a great fight.” to "confident of victory"? It seems that if he a Wallaby says anything more positive than "we're screwed, man!" it's penned as hubris.

I cannot begin to wonder how they Wallabies really feel about their chances to win back the Bledisloe Cup this year. Do they really believe they can do it this year .. 2016? They need to win two matches, there is one match in Australia this year, in Sydney which is a bit of a happy hunting ground for them but then two matches in NZ, Wellington and Auckland. I would have thought that next year might be more realistic when there are two matches played at home. I don't mean to sound arrogant and accept that the Wallabies will be very competitive, much more so than their own fans dare to hope and anything is possible knowing full well that Super rugby form does not necessarily translate to Test Match performance. There are not too many weak errors in the All Black playing structure where depth is perhaps unprecedented in several positions at the moment. I just wonder if the various match ups will balance out in favour of the Wallabies. In spite of the extra time in camp, the Wallabies will be underdogs for sure and I'm not convinced that Cheika's men can defy the odds. Having said that, when they run out onto ANZ stadium on 20th August, the score will be Nil all, history, squad depth or anything else will matter other than the next 80 mins.

Gotta have some belief I suppose. Picking the first game in Sydney to go close with other two in NZ being a lot harder. Would love to hear the where, why and how questions answered.