Giteau given the go ahead
3 Jul 2006
Wallaby inside centre Matt Giteau should be fit for the Tri-Nations opener in Christchurch, after enduring a training practice without complications this morning.
Giteau was doubtful to join the Aussies in New Zealand after he dislocated his thumb in a club game over the weekend. But after training well at Coffs Harbour with the rest of the team today, he is expected to travel to the South Island on Wednesday.
Australia coach John Connolly is pleased to have the Brumbies midfielder back, but said that Giteau will have to pass another fitness test on Friday.
“There will be a team named tomorrrow but there will be reviews on players as the week goes on,” Connolly said.
Meanwhile, the squad of 24 to be announced on Tuesday will not not include New South Wales flanker Wycliff Palu and Brumby winger Clyde Rathbone, who are both suffering from hamstring injuries.
The Western Force’s Scott Fava who returned to club rugby this weekend looks set to take Palu’s spot on the bench.
“We’ve been happy with the way Scott Fava has trained throughout the campaign and he deserves his opportunity on the bench,” Connolly said.
“Cliffy’s got a small tear in his hamstring, which is not a serious one, but we didn’t want to risk doing further damage by playing him this weekend.”
Rathbone has made good progress with his injury but according to Connolly is still not running at full pace.
“Again, [Rathbone's] is not a serious problem, but we thought it best to give him the extra week to get it right.”
19 Comments
3 Jul 2006, 09:32 am
Who cares.
3 Jul 2006, 09:32 am
My money is on the Ozzies
3 Jul 2006, 09:36 am
PA – i would tend to agree but your Superbru rankings make me think otherwsie
This should be a cracker of a game…..
3 Jul 2006, 09:56 am
Rathbone is a traitor…
3 Jul 2006, 09:58 am
My favourites for the Tri-nations trophy too. With Giteau coming back their backline options are even more intimidating.
Latham to be the top try scorer in this competition.
3 Jul 2006, 09:59 am
LMFAO Ig, between you and PissAnt, i don’t know who is worst. i see you are filtering to the bottom allready. and that after only 2 matches!
3 Jul 2006, 10:07 am
Yup JUSM – its true – i seem to be on my way to my usual spot at the bottom – still clinging to the fact Redcard is below me !
3 Jul 2006, 11:05 am
i hate to talk bad bout people but i cant say iam not glad rathbone is hurt
3 Jul 2006, 11:06 am
this weekend is gonna be a great game both teams need not to get bonus points to make it easier for the boks
3 Jul 2006, 11:22 am
The buildup is beginning to smell quite similar to the 1st test in the Lions series.
3 Jul 2006, 12:45 pm
Why do people persist in telling us that they put their money on Australia without telling us what favourable odds they must have got?
3 Jul 2006, 13:03 pm
I am not worried about the Australia backline, I am worried more about the All Blacks lineouts, in 3 tests, they have not shown any improvement, though understood that the guys who played in the argie test, some had not played rugby for the best part of 5 weeks, still, thats enough time even for me to get it right. The lineouts, I will give that to Australia, The Scrums to the All Blacks and the backs can sort each other out, I am not going to say that Australia will win because they played better, in there test matches, and NZ did not, but this is christchurch, cold foggy dewy wet christchurch, where the backs play well whne the ball is coming from forward momentum, and when you have a wallaby scrum that cannot do its job well, then I believe the oz backs will be nullified. What happened in the test series before this week will not determine the outcome of this match.
3 Jul 2006, 16:07 pm
Also CSI, the ABs will mark Larkham properly. The Irish gave him acres of space and he used it wisely.
In the past Larkham’s tactical kicking has suffered when he has been pressured. Apparently he worked on it while he was injured and thinks it is better now, but we won’t know until he has a real test.
3 Jul 2006, 19:24 pm
CSI: Christchurch has never been christchurch. CHCH yes , home of the Super 12 and 14 yes, home to the greatest football player in the world yes, home to (give it a boot) Robbie yes, Christchurch yes. CSI indeed!!
Oh..and if you think back 2 years our lineouts are better now
4 Jul 2006, 05:14 am
Oz will win this series.
4 Jul 2006, 09:36 am
Well that’s it then…no point in playing. Pompies has already told us the result.
4 Jul 2006, 10:07 am
So mister church you tell us who will win and by how much fat head.
4 Jul 2006, 10:57 am
Not sure who will win (excuse me but restricted by basic principle of the future and lack of a time travel device). I would favour the ABs but things could go wildly in any direction. It is going to be really interesting. Can’t wait.
Oh, and the whole thing is fat (not just the head).
4 Jul 2006, 11:01 am
Seriosly the games against the NH teams have not shown us much. Big advantafe for the Bok’s to sit out the first one.
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