Aussie latest – Giteau confirms RWC snub
17 Aug 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from the Wallabies camp.
Gits confirms Wallabies exit - Matt Giteau confirmed that he will not feature in the Wallabies’ 30-man World Cup squad via Twitter.
Media reports from Down Under say head coach Robbie Deans passed on the bad news the 92-Test veteran on Wednesday, to which Giteau responded on Twitter: ‘Thank u ballboys, thank u linesman! That’s it…’ and ‘Really wanna thank everyone for the support! Was a huge honour to get the chance to represent my country as often as I did #veryprivileged’
Giteau was dropped from the Wallabies squad ahead of the Tri-Nations and last played in the shock 32-23 defeat to Samoa in July. He will head to France in November as he signed a two-year deal with Top 14 club Toulon.
Deans will name his World Cup squad on Thursday.
33 Comments
17 Aug 2011, 10:55 am
Finally – this almost makes me think Deans isn’t a spy from NZ sent to stuff up the Aussies chances.
17 Aug 2011, 11:15 am
Shame.
17 Aug 2011, 11:20 am
Pat McCabe killed Gits international career!
17 Aug 2011, 11:46 am
Not surprised, he has been terrible the last two years and way too arrogant! Aussies better of without him…
17 Aug 2011, 11:59 am
Deans doesn’t take ****. No sentimental sellections with him. Either you’re good enough or your not. End of. In SA ofcourse we keep flogging dead horses as we owe them for past performances.
17 Aug 2011, 12:40 pm
Not his biggest fan… but I feel for Gits…
Personally I think they need him… need his wise head out in the backs in the tight tough games… as in against the ABs the other day… would have him on the bench cause he can cover from scrumhalf to fullback and would bring him on late in any close games…
sad end to a really good career…
17 Aug 2011, 13:27 pm
Its the correct choice by Deans. Cheers Matt, enjoy France and make some money.
17 Aug 2011, 13:34 pm
@ufo(ufo)-6:
Agree with every word UFO.
Git’s has been one of Australia’s best backs over the last 6 or 7 years.
I find it hard to believe a place could not be found for him on merit.
17 Aug 2011, 14:52 pm
This shows why Deans is such a good coach. Gits is a special talent no doubt, but if he doesn’t fit into the picture Robbie is painting, out he goes. Robbie is sending a message to all his players – no-one is indispensible and he is in charge. That is what he is paid to do. If only we had that strength of leadership in SA.
17 Aug 2011, 15:07 pm
The Aussies quite simply need the skills and incisiveness of Matt Gits. and B.Barnes as their present midfield does not serve the purposes of their backline runners well at all.
In addition both named players are extremely versatile in the back division insituations of need.
It will be a sad day if Gits. is not in that squad(it seems Barnes may well be there).
Has Deans taken his mental ploys(my read) with Gits. too far and is now backed into a corner by the untimely interventions of older rugby Aussies?
This story below may well indicate that:
” Deans urged to retain Giteau for WC
A string of Wallaby greats have called on coach Robbie Deans to spare Matt Giteau the axe and include the 92-test back in Australia’s squad for the World Cup when it is named on Thursday.
Australia’s sixth most capped player of all time played in the last two versions of rugby’s showpiece event and was nominated for IRB World Player of the Year as recently as 2009.
However, the meteoric rise of Quade Cooper saw Giteau lose the starting flyhalf spot, and a poor Super rugby campaign, combined with a disappointing display in Australia’s upset loss to Samoa, has put his place in the squad in jeopardy.
Deans was keeping his cards close to his chest when he returned from South Africa on Wednesday but was met with a barrage of advice from former players and coaches to include Giteau in his 30-man party for the World Cup in New Zealand.
“He’s too good a player to leave out of the squad in total,” former flyhalf Mark Ella told Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph.
Stephen Larkham pointed out the backline options that Giteau, who has scored 684 test points, would offer the Wallabies.
“Gits can play anywhere, including halfback. He’s very versatile, is a left-foot option and is very experienced,” the 1999 World Cup winner said. “You want someone like that in the squad.” (not fully quoted story)
Swallow your pride Deans as without Matty G. you will not stand a donkey’s chance in the RWC Final.
17 Aug 2011, 16:52 pm
Can’t believe they’ve given Deans a new contract until 2013, particularly with McKenzie going so well at the Reds.
@ET.(ET.)-10: agree!
17 Aug 2011, 19:25 pm
Deans is arrogant and won’t admit he needs Gits. McCabe did not blow me away, and once again we’ve seen Cooper’s decision making at test level is embarrasing. Ask yourself — would Dan Carter EVER make the mistake on his own try line that Cooper did with Fourie?
Also, let’s not forget how Deans also unceremoniously ran Christian Cullen out of the All Blacks
17 Aug 2011, 19:31 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-3: I find it challenging that Pat McCabe could be favoured ahead of Giteau in a World Cup, Matt surely must be seen as a clear option at 12. McCaw and Carter nearly moved to the Blues because of Deans, I still maintain he’s a dodgy dingo!
17 Aug 2011, 20:39 pm
Gits hasn;t had a good couple of years, so this what happens I guess..
He was a good player, Great? Not in my opinion.
17 Aug 2011, 22:07 pm
amazing ….Giteau chopped and Plod goes toWC…
absolutely amazing…
17 Aug 2011, 22:07 pm
Deans is going to regret this….big time.
17 Aug 2011, 22:21 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-14: be serious, he is one of the best inside backs of the past decade
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-5: it’s pretty clear Giteau is good enough, even if it was only for the bench, this is clearly a personal issue between the two
17 Aug 2011, 22:25 pm
@grant10(grant10)-16: not as much as giteau.
17 Aug 2011, 22:32 pm
Deans has really been very average for Australia as a coach. It is true that Ewen McKenzie contributed to the Wallaby success despite Deans. If it had not been for the Reds, this team, which may not be as grandiose as everybody thinks, would be back at square one. Deans made his first hint of getting rid of Gits when he selected Elsom as Captain and the always-hurt Barnes as his second.
Sadly Deans will learn the hard way that he has made a dreadful mistake in not taking along the versatile Giteau, who doesn’t like because he conspired to rid the Force of another awful Kiwi coach, John Mitchell.
17 Aug 2011, 22:47 pm
Foolish decision IMO.
He is a big game player and offered a left boot option. Not to mention years of experience.
How Pat McCabe can play ahead of him is beyond my grasp.
18 Aug 2011, 00:49 am
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-5:
that doesnt explain Caleb Ralph.
18 Aug 2011, 00:51 am
@DAS(DAS)-12:
Deans & Mitch’s treatment of Cullen was a disgrace.
18 Aug 2011, 00:52 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-13:
“McCaw and Carter nearly moved to the Blues because of Deans”
since when ?!
18 Aug 2011, 00:53 am
@grant10(grant10)-16:
Certainly hope so and that its not his first regret either. Dingo can fark right off.
18 Aug 2011, 01:16 am
First Christian Cullen now Giteau who next Deans?
18 Aug 2011, 01:59 am
Gits has been playing poorly for two full seasons now, why should Deans pick him? He had one ok game against the Reds this year and that was about it.
As for Link being flavour of the month, remember he was dropped by the Worrytahs and did not last long in his subsequent gig either. He has done exceptionally well with a bunch of youngsters at the Reds and it showed he learned his lessons…but anotyher two years before taking over from Deans will do him and the Wallabies the world of good.
See unlike SA the Aussies actually seem to have a plan going forward and under O’Neil is heading down a specific route…not just shooting in the dark. Love or hate them but we can learn from them…
18 Aug 2011, 02:12 am
Take McCabe out of the equation. He will do alright for himself. But to Adam Ashley Cooper and not Giteau tells me that Deans , who was to the manor born, would rather take a limited player like Ashley-Cooper, who is some sort of Lord and related to William the Conqueror, because trusts the repetitive rugby elitism originating in the public schools of England. If the rumor is true I hope it comes back to bite Deans in the next month.
18 Aug 2011, 03:01 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-26:
The team at Stade Francais loved Link as their coach. The owner of Stade probably loved him even more….
Pizza anyone ?!
You cant compare a grassroots club like Queensland to b*tchy infighting cesspits of political backstabbing like NSW & Stade.
18 Aug 2011, 03:38 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-28:
So why did he pull out?
The bottomline is that he is doing very well NOW, he was not a stand out two years ago. He will get his change.
18 Aug 2011, 03:42 am
Giteau was only good at inside centre before deans….his style suited larkham et al. Deans plays a more direct game plan and giteau still runs parrallel to the advantage line which polarises the backline. I think a very good decision – a brave one. Giteau has not shown leadership qualities.
Horwill made captain is an exceptional decision.
18 Aug 2011, 03:52 am
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-30:
Agree Walla, thing is he ha struggled for a while now, simple as that and Barnes showed some excellent glimpses in his very shart time on the field this year.
Very surprised by the Horwill decision, right one but still.
18 Aug 2011, 05:17 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-17: I am serious. Good but not great.
18 Aug 2011, 08:56 am
Walla
“the Horwill decision” ?!
has the Rock been moved ???
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