'Special' Wallabies excites Giteau

[Steve-o]

http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3...4229930,00.html

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Australia pivot Matt Giteau feels the new-look Wallabies may be on the verge of something special as they prepare for their first end-of-year tour under new coach Robbie Deans.

The six-match campaign concludes with a game at Wembley Stadium against the famous Barbarians, a team Giteau has played for against New Zealand and South Africa, but has yet to oppose.

"It's an interesting tour, but having said that it's going to be a very enjoyable one, there's a lot of hard games ahead of us," Giteau told AAP.

"But I think the attitude among the boys is we feel like it's a good opportunity for us to play some good football away from home and hopefully we're on the verge of something special."

Primarily used at inside centre by previous Wallaby coaches, Giteau has flourished this year as their full-time number ten and chief decision-maker.

Giteau said it had been a big learning curve and his education was continuing.

"It's just something that I'm focusing on, just trying to get better each week," he said.

"You learn a lot from your losses. I think that's where you learn the most, what you've done wrong and how to improve."

With full-back Chris Latham and long standing halves George Gregan and Stephen Larkham leaving the Wallabies over the last 12 months, Giteau has become one of the senior backs and has consciously tried to exhibit more leadership.

He said leadership naturally went hand-in-hand with being the back-line director and being the Western Force vice-captain had also given him experience in that area.

"It's something that I've tried to do, but it's certainly something I need to keep continually trying to work on," said Giteau.

"Just getting involved a little bit more in games and I suppose training and off the park, helping in any way I can to keep the group heading in the right direction."

Quizzed over whether he had any captaincy aspirations with the Wallabies, Giteau stressed it wasn't his decision to make and that there was a timing element.

"You don't really know when you're ready for it, it's something very unknown for me," said Giteau.

"I've captained one game for the Force and that's about it. Whether it's for me, it's not up for me to determine."

Speculation is already building about Giteau's future beyond his current contract with the Force, but he was adamant it would not prove a distraction.

"No, not at all. It's always been something that I've been reasonably good at, just to separate football from whatever else is going on," said Giteau.

He had no knowledge of reports emanating from Perth over alleged player dissatisfaction with Force coach John Mitchell.

"I didn't even know about it till I came in here," Giteau said.

Giteau also had some wise words for teenager James O'Connor who will make his Test debut on Australia's year end tour.

Eighteen-year-old O'Connor impressed Deans enough in his four Super 14 matches for the Force to gain selection to the squad for the year end tour.

He is now poised to become one of the youngest full internationals ever for Australia. His transition from Super Rugby to Tests will be made somewhat easier with Force team-mate Giteau willing to offer some sage advice.

"The most important thing for him is to learn as much as he can," said Giteau.

"If he can learn from players who are successful, even if it is a front-rower or back-rower, it can only make him a better player. And if he doesn't understand something, just ask.

"It revolves around learning from all of your experiences.

"When I was picked for the Wallabies, I probably wasn't ready for Test rugby," added Giteau.

"But the experience of that first Test was so important. After that, I knew what level I had to be at to be successful. I knew then I was out of my depth, but still learnt so much from that game and that Wallaby tour.

"Until I ran on, I had been watching that Test like a spectator. Once I got out there, it was an enormous discovery.

"I quickly found out the difference in speed between an ordinary game and a Test match, and exactly where I needed to be.

"What was good was that I came away from that tour knowing I had a long way to go, and that I had to start working really hard to get to the required level."

Giteau also drew similarities between himself and O'Connor, joking that the young rookie possesses a healthy self esteem.

"When he first came into the Force team, he was pretty shy around me and a few of the guys," said Giteau.

"He was very much like myself when I began with the Wallabies. I wouldn't dare say anything, and would go out of my way to do things I wouldn't normally do to keep people happy.

"But once you settle into a place, you become yourself, and that's when you feel more at ease.

"When he began to know everyone [at the Force], that's when he began to talk it all up, and tell everyone how good he was."

Meanwhile, Wallaby coach Deans rated all four recuperating players - number eight Wycliff Palu and backs Lote Tuqiri, Berrick Barnes and Luke Burgess - as likely to tour.

"They are certainly keen and you find when there's a will, they find a way," said Deans.[/b]

And a side note on the Baa Baa game...

http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,...4196897,00.html

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Seven Springboks have reportedly answered former South Africa and World Cup-winning coach Jake White's call-up for the Barbarians fixture against Australia in the Olympic Centenary Match at Wembley on December 3.

South Africa captain John Smit, full-back Percy Montgomery, centre Jean de Villiers, wing Bryan Habana, half-back Fourie du Preez, flanker Schalk Burger and lock Bakkies Botha have reportedly committed to this exhibition match.

Apart from Montgomery who recently retired from Test rugby, these current Springbok players could run out for the Baa-Baas after a three-week tour of the UK.

All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw will captain the Barbarians, while fellow Kiwis Jerry Collins and Joe Rokocoko will also play under White - who will make his return to coaching for this match.[/b]