News
Giteau hungry for more
November 27 2008
Matt Giteau has warned Wales that fatigue will not be a factor when he makes his 14th Test appearance of the year on Saturday.
Giteau is viewed as Wales' biggest single obstacle to beating Millennium Stadium visitors Australia and ending a three-year wait for victory over major southern-hemisphere opposition.
The Western Force fly-half is in such prime form that some astute judges - including former Wales playmaker Jonathan Davies - currently rate him above New Zealand superstar Dan Carter.
Giteau, despite only reaching his 26th birthday two months ago, has already amassed 64 caps and 401 Test-match points.
He is also the principal reason why Australia need one more win to complete a first undefeated European tour since 1996.
Giteau kicked 20 points during the Wallabies' biggest success against England at Twickenham since 1984, which followed his 17-point haul collected in Italy seven days earlier.
Then last weekend, Giteau's two penalties and a conversion helped Australia edge out France 18-13 in Paris, so it is little wonder Wales boss Warren Gatland has identified the Sydney-born destroyer as an enormous threat.
The bad news for Wales though, is Giteau continues to display an unquenchable thirst for action.
"I feel good physically. (Coach) Robbie Deans handles the workload pretty well," he said.
"Among the group, everyone knows their roles by now.
"We've been together all year, so it is just a matter of managing your workload and making sure you go into each game fresh.
"So far, every game I have gone into I've been feeling very fresh and excited."
The threat posed by Giteau is one Wales coach Warren Gatland knows his side must control.
"When Dan Carter is on top of his game and dominating, the All Blacks get a flow, and it's the same with Australia and Giteau," Gatland said.
"He is deceptively strong in the tackle area, he runs nice lines and he knows when to take a gap.
"We did a lot of work last week (on Carter), and it will be the same sort of approach this week in terms of trying to shut down Matt's game."
Australia's 12-year wait to march through Europe unbeaten is an undoubted motivating factor for the Wallabies.
"It has been a long time," acknowledged Giteau.
"That just shows how tough it is to do it, and we've got that opportunity on Saturday.
"We know Wales are an exciting side. They like to use the ball, and they are going well defensively.
"Against New Zealand last weekend they showed they can defend very well, and all 15 players they have in their side can use the ball.
"In the opening couple of minutes, they were going from side to side, throwing the ball and testing the All Blacks.
"They are a tough side. So far, we've defended well on this tour, but we need to step up again.
"Wales have made huge improvements over the last year, obviously winning the Six Nations, which they deserved.
"They are a side that likes to use the ball - as we are as well - so it should be a good game.
"Their defence has improved a lot, so I would say this week we will get less opportunities than we did against England or France.
"We are trying to play field position, and then when we get opportunities, that is when we try to strike."
Australia could have been excused for thinking they would struggle to replace Stephen Larkham, whose 102-cap Test career ended last year after a glittering reign in the Wallabies number 10 shirt.
But Gatland's fellow New Zealander Deans knows Giteau is a rare gem, and he was thrilled to hear the praise lavished on him by ex-Wales star Davies.
"That's high praise from a bloke who knows, and high praise when you consider that a year hasn't gone yet since Stephen Larkham was still around," Deans said.
"It was pretty early in the piece that I decided to play him at 10, and he has pretty much fulfilled all I had hoped for.
"He continues to get better - and long may that last."