Gits back to where he once belonged
MATT Giteau is on the brink of a Test start against South Africa in Brisbane in a week almost four years to the day he was jettisoned from the Wallabies.
While much of the focus yesterday was on the nine names that coach Michael Cheika left out of his 31-man Wallabies squad, it is the skilful playmaker who has glided through who will stir much of the fuss from here.
You do not pick a skilful 32-year-old, 92-Test veteran from his French club base for a squad and then park him on hold when he does arrive.
Now Giteau is back, the Wallabies have to find out immediately what he has to offer for a looming World Cup by tossing him in against the Springboks in Brisbane.
Cheika’s other big calls yesterday were super-sizing the Wallabies by rewarding giant 2.08m lock Rory Arnold for an impressive training week and keeping a second rookie in 125kg winger Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Cheika and new backs boss Steve Larkham deliberately ran their backs in many different formations in camp on the Sunshine Coast this week to give every weapon a chance to gell in the attacking pattern the team has devised.
NSW inside centre Kurtley Beale only returned to full training yesterday be- cause of his thigh strain so it really leaves the Test No.12 jersey against the Boks between Giteau and Matt Toomua.
Cheika rated ACT Brumbies midfielder Christian Lealiifano as unlucky to miss the squad cut, as did Queensland rookie Samu Kerevi.
Giteau has trained almost exclusively at inside centre this week.
The utility back once de- scribed as “the golden thread through the Wallabies” by John Connolly has not played a Test since another former Wallabies boss, Robbie Deans, went ice cold on Giteau after the 32-23 crash to Samoa in Sydney in 2011.
Queensland prop Greg Holmes is in a Test squad for the first time in eight years.
Cheika said 54-Test No.8 Wycliff Palu was fit but left out “to get his body right to get the best from him in the longer run” this year.
Cheika explained Mumm’s selection as “fitting the lock profile of playing a bit tighter.”
“I’ve watching a lot of good stuff from Dean in England (with Exeter),” Cheika said.