Don't Forget About Matt
With all the fanfare surrounding the arrival of Quade Cooper onto the international scene, it may have slipped people's minds that the Wallabies have another world-class fly half/centre in Matt Giteau, who may have become the forgotten man of Australian rugby.
Giteau first entered the minds of the wider rugby public when he was a blood replacement for Stephen Larkham in the 2003 World Cup Final, at just 20 years of age Giteau was playing in the biggest game in world rugby.
Since that famous night in Sydney, Giteau has become a regular fixture in the Wallaby shirt, playing both 10 and 12. In 2004 Giteau earned a nomination for the IRB World Player of the Year Award after an outstanding season at inside centre. Giteau scored 81 points in 11 tests, including four tries as the Wallabies 72% of their matches.
In 2007 the versatile back left the Brumbies for the newly created Western Force and became known as the "Six Million Dollar man after signing a lucrative contract which made him one of the top earners in either code. It was at the Force that Giteau started showing his prowess at stand-off, his rugby brain second to none, his ability to spot the gap and attack it makes him extremely dangerous when attacking the line. He also has a great eye for the try line and his 28 tries for his country show just how good he is.
When Robbie Deans took over the reins in 2008 he announced that Giteau would be his new number 10, since that day Giteau has endured a mixed time in the jersey. Producing a sensational display in 2009 against Wales, Giteau led the charge as the Wallabies tore through the Welsh defence, finishing with 13 points in one of the best attacking displays of the year. But the Aussie star then missed a conversion against Scotland which cost the Wallabies the game. Despite this 2009 was a superb year overall for the man from Sydney, he started 13 tests scoring 153 points, which included five tries and 31 penalty goals.
But in 2010 his troubles with the boot continued, as he missed some crucial shots at goal in the defeat to New Zealand, and he then missed a simple penalty goal in the game against England which the Wallabies lost by a point. Amidst heavy pressure from media Deans had to turn to a new man and with Berrick Barnes out of form, the former Crusaders coach looked to Reds sensation Quade Cooper to fill the 10 jersey, and James O'Connor was given the kicking duties.
Since then Giteau has been inconsistent in a struggling Brumbies side, but when his side met the high flying Reds a couple of weeks ago, Giteau gave the Wallaby selectors a timely reminder of his quality as he outplayed the man who took his number 10 shirt Quade Cooper. That night Giteau was almost unplayable, his attacking as ever was razor sharp, but what impressed most of all was his tactical kicking game, he constantly turned the Reds defence around and pinned them back inside the 22.
Deans now has a massive call to make in the upcoming Tri-Nations, does he leave Giteau out after the problems of the last 12 months? Or does he back the class of the man? Without the pressure of goal-kicking Giteau can flourish and just play his game. He will provide a calm and stable influence next the flair and exuberance of Cooper.
In a young back-line which includes James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale, Giteau provides a level of experience and class which is priceless, he has what that thing that all great players have, time. Time on the ball is something you either have, or you don't, and Giteau has it. Personally Giteau would be in my team every time, his versatility and attacking ability him a handful to any defence.
He will be bringing the class to Europe after the World Cup, Giteau has signed for big spending French side Toulon. He will be playing alongside the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, it is another mouth-watering combination, and alongside the legendary Englishman Giteau could lead the French side to glory.
