Giteau wary of Wilkinson

AUSTRALIA centre Matt Giteau believes World Cup quarter-final opponents England are a far more dangerous team now Jonny Wilkinson is back in the team.

The Wallabies view the defending champions as a growing force and put much of that down to the return of Wilkinson, their drop-goal nemesis from the 2003 final.

Wilkinson missed England’s first two matches of the tournament with an ankle injury before returning for the wins over Samoa and Tonga.

Giteau said: “The reason England are looking more dangerous is that they are starting to build into the competition nicely.

“Their backline has been improving since the South Africa game and they get a lot of confidence with Jonny in the side. He provides a lot for the team, not only his kicking and general play but just him being in the team.

‘‘They have lots of confidence with him back in the side, and not just in terms of his kicking.

‘‘Once he is in the team, the whole side seems to grow in confidence.

‘‘When Jonny is in the team, they feel they can try things.

‘‘When they play without him, they lack of confidence.”

Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock added: “The fact they have Jonny Wilkinson back seems to have composed their team a bit. We’re very wary.”

But Giteau insisted his side would go into the match without any psychological scars.

‘‘We don’t fear England with him in the team — we don’t really fear any of their players,"