Caesar’s assassin?

HE HASN’T read the Australian newspapers online, and he’s tip-toed around the praise that’s come his way since stepping into the scrum half position for the two tests against Wales and Italy.

But it’s a big story in Australia: Matt Giteau, nominally an inside centre, inheriting — whether permanently or not — the No 9 shirt from Wallaby icon, George Gregan. His move to scrum-half, where he played at schools level up to the age of 19, has created a stir. A positive one.

If he’s borrowing the jersey, he’s offering a more exciting, brasher alternative to Gregan’s predictable output of late. However, some Aussie newspapers draw analogies between Giteau’s ascent and a role akin to “Caesar’s assassin.”

He laughs when this comparison is put to him by an Australian journalist and is unaware if such an analysis exists. He admits he hasn’t been at the end of any gentle ribbing from the squad over what seems, throughout the interview, a reluctant ambition to take the number nine shirt on a more permanent basis from his ACT Brumbies and Australian teammate (though Giteau leaves the Brumbies for Western Force next year).

Gregan received much bad press during the Tri-Nations and many perceive the world’s most capped player as hanging on too long and loath to give younger players a chance.

By virtue of two impressive tests this autumn, Giteau is laying claim to a jersey that could be his come the World Cup in France next September. As things stand Gregan is being “rested” on this tour by coach John Connolly, but some believe he’s being put out to grass.

“George (Gregan) in fact texted me and congratulated me after the Welsh game and said well done,” says Giteau.

“That was big of him but he’s a good friend. It’s a little bit uncomfortable thinking about taking over his position. You never know what the selectors will be thinking and George is the best half-back Australia has ever produced. I really respect him as a bloke and as a player.”

Giteau’s impact on this tour to date hasn’t gone unnoticed by Eddie O’Sullivan, who was effusive in his praise of the 24-year-old. The Ireland coach views Giteau as a threat around the centre, a potential match-winner and a primary target for the home side’s defence.

“That is a compliment, but I’m getting more encouragement from the coaches to run,” adds Giteau.

“In the Italian game I didn’t get as much room to run as I would have liked, and that was pretty frustrating. The Welsh game was good as I got that chance to run. But also if I wasn’t running I got a lot more options outside, so that’s the same plan we’ll take this week against Ireland.”

He’ll be facing a former Super 12 opponent in Isaac Boss on Sunday. They faced each other when Giteau’s Brumbies played Boss’ Waikato Chiefs, but they weren’t direct opponents as the Wallaby lined out in the centre.

However, Giteau, despite admiring Boss, expressed surprise at Peter Stringer’s demotion to the bench for this test.

“He (Boss) must be playing really well to move Peter Stringer out of the half back position. I’m very surprised,” said Giteau. “I’m not sure what’s going on there with the selection process. Isaac Boss is obviously a good player as well. He has played in the Super 12 so I know a little bit about him.

“Stringer is a very good player but taking nothing away from Isaac, I think Peter Stringer has 70 caps, a lot of experience and his combination especially with O’Gara is pretty special. I’m not sure how many tests they’ve played together but I think to break that up was a big call.”

He’ll expect a more combative approach from Boss, but the player he sees as Australia’s biggest threat is O’Gara.

“If you’re going to pick one player I suppose O’Gara is the key, especially with the ball in hand. I think he created nearly all of their tries against South Africa. He’s a very skilful player, he’s creative and he’s kicking game too especially in terrible conditions is first-class. He can just hit a corner and pin you down just with his kicking game.”

Four years ago O’Gara did just that, kicking for the corners and taking his penalties (six in all in an 18-9 win) in monsoon conditions in Lansdowne Road. Giteau expects a more multi-dimensional Ireland to strut their stuff as they did so effectively against South Africa, no matter what the weather is like.

He also knows the Irish will want to avenge June’s test defeat in Perth where Ireland seemed to run out of gas.

“We didn’t know how they were feeling going into the game. We felt the game was pretty tough but I suppose the roles are reversed now. We’re coming in to the second last game of the tour or third test game — as it was for them in Perth — and they’re coming in pretty fresh, so they’ll see their chance and expect to take it.”