Aussie Matt really Gits his No.12
Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:14
Australia's star pivot Matt Giteau feels that his partnership with inside centre Berrick Barnes is rapidly growing into a dangerous weapon for the Wallabies team.
The Aussie flyhalf was in a positive mood as the team went through its paces in impressive fashion in Cape Town - under the watchful eye of coach Robbie Deans - as the Wallabies aim to inflict a third successive Tri-Nations defeat on South Africa when the sides meet in Durban on Saturday.
The Boks lost the final match of their Australasian Tri-Nations tour 9-16 to the Aussies in Perth and also suffered a 0-19 loss to the All Blacks at Newlands last Saturday, to leave SA coach Peter de Villiers under some pressure.
The Australian backline has looked lively this season in the Tri-Nations, especially in their 34-19 win over the All Blacks in Sydney. Much of that spark revolved around the midfield axis of Giteau and No.12 Berrick Barnes.
"The combination with Berrick I feel has been improving each week," said Giteau of the positive chemistry between him and his insdie centre.
"It's developing because he's the sort of player you can easily slot into a combination with. He gives me another ball-playing option.
"Berrick is a great player, he has a lot of skills and I think they compliment the way I like to play.
"He's a very selfless player, the sort of player who plays for others, and he's the sort of player that you need.
"Having said that, Timana Tahu has also been training at inside centre, and he's also going well," revealed the flyhalf."
The Western Force No.10 said that he felt the Springboks posed a big threat at times against New Zealand last weekend, but just didn't manage to make their opportunities count.
"I thought the Boks created a lot of chances, but they weren't able to take any of them," he said.
"They are still very dangerous, they're just not finishing them off."
Giteau added that despite the loss, he still expected the Springboks to come out all guns blazing at Absa Stadium. In the same breath, he displayed all the self-assurance that makes the Aussies such a formidable unit.
"The Boks will be fired up to get a win at home. There's obviously a bit of pressure on them.
"It's going to be a much harder game than what we faced in Perth, even though that match was intense and physical, but I think that this game will be a step up.
"But whether the Springboks won or lost, we'd still go into the game [this Saturday] with a lot of confidence. We have a lot of confidence within our group, and among the players that we've got here.
"So it doesn't matter which side we're playing against, or the results that have happened previously, we know that this game against the Springboks is going to be a tough game, and we're not taking it lightly, but within our squad we're confident in our own abilities," continued the pivot.
As always in Tests, a key battle will take place between Giteau and his opposite number, Bok flyhalf Butch James. The Aussie reckoned that James was always a difficult opponent, and that things would be no different this time round.
"Butch is a very smart kicker, and he's an aggressive flyhalf, who has been playing good football," said Giteau.
"He's also skillful, and creates a lot of things. Butch is a great player, and it's always tough when you play against him."
One of the many outstanding features of Giteau's game this season has been his superb goal-kicking.
The pint-sized gamebreaker has transformed that part of his game to challenge skipper Stirling Mortlock for the place-kicking honours in the Aussie team.
But Giteau couldn't quite put his finger on why he has experienced such good results in terms of kicking at goal this year, saying he was "not too sure".
"You just have those games where it feels like you're hitting the ball well," he explained. "At the moment I feel that I'm striking the ball as good as I ever have.
"But there are a number of guys in the squad that are good goal-kickers, so I've just got to keep practicing.
"There are times when I'm not hitting the ball as well as I would like, but stats are irrelevant. The biggest thing is that if the team is going well, then I'm happy.
"It's just one of the jobs, and something I look forward to.
"I haven't changed a whole lot in my action, maybe I've just been having easier shots. Maybe they've just been closer to the posts [this year]," he joked.
By Phil Coetzer
