Matt Giteau out to strike a blow for the little guys

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 23:02

THE horrendous weather that lashed Edinburgh yesterday and is forecast for the capital tomorrow has focused minds within the Wallaby camp as the tourists bid to extend their dominance over Scotland to 17 straight wins.

Australia have made just one change to the starting line-up that drew 20-20 with Ireland on Sunday, handing the Dublin man of the match David Pocock a rest and restoring 108-times capped flanker George Smith to the back row. It is a swap of experience for young talent, but both are world-class, so there will be little joy for Scotland, but it was interesting that the Wallabies yesterday put up Smith and Matt Giteau, the supremely talented fly-half, alongside coach Robbie Deans at the press conference.

There is little doubt that the work of Smith and his back-row cohorts Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu around the big, thumping tackles and battle for possession, and the kicking game of Giteau and his inside centre/fly-half Quade Cooper will be key determinants in this Test match.

Deans acknowledged: "I understand the weather will be like this so what that means is you don't play with the ball in the wrong part of the ground. It's easier for defences to really pressure the ball if you become isolated or get caught behind your support."

Giteau has become well used to being the man to drive the Wallabies, from his first call-up to the Australia camp as a teenager in 2002 to playing in the World Cup final the following year, fitting in between Stephen Larkham and Stirling Mortlock at centre, replacing George Gregan at scrum-half and now pulling the strings at stand-off.

He is still only 27, but is now one of the cornerstones of the new Deans era and, developing a handy partnership with the left-footed Cooper reminiscent of Deans' Andrew Mehrtens-Dan Carter model at the Crusaders, the box of tricks admits part of helping to take the Wallabies forward has been learning to put the team before himself.

"It has been frustrating at times this year," he said, reflecting on a Tri Nations with just one win in six games. "It has been tough for me and the team, because we haven't got the results, and you play sport because you love winning so you get frustrated when you don't perform as well as you can, and the team doesn't.

"There are times when you want to get involved more to try and make things happen and it doesn't always come off, but it's about maturity. If you always put the team first then nine out of ten times you'll make the right decision, but when you put yourself before the team you might do some wonderful things, but you'll stuff up a lot more.

"I'd like to think we've been pretty consistent and competitive – we're still in the top three in the world – but we're nowhere near where we were in 2003. The key for us is developing strength in depth and there is a feeling on this tour that we're heading in the right direction, that young guys are coming in and the squad depth is growing.

"This squad is a lot younger than any squad I've ever been involved with before. When I first came into the Wallabies side I was 19, 20 on my debut, and people were going 'wow' But now we've got five or six players aged around 20 and guys are getting their opportunity a lot younger now, and this tour is good for allowing them to pick up some momentum."

Giteau has played Scotland five times and scored two tries, as well as kicking a bundle of points, and knows his ability to out-manoeuvre a similarly short fly-half in Phil Godman will be crucial tomorrow.

"I'm feeling more at home this week with small guys around," he laughed. "But one thing I've learned is that Chris Cusiter and Godman may be small, but they are crucial and among the most skilful guys on the field. They can be less intimidating but they can create more headaches as well.

"The game has been going the way of big guys – when I played in the centres I was 20 kilos less than the guys around me – but there is definitely a place in this game for the smaller, skilful guys.

"Scotland bring quite a direct approach from the set-piece, with two big centres and big wingers as well, so defensively it's going to be a big challenge for us, especially for the smaller fellas like myself, Quade (Cooper] and Will (Genia]. But we're looking forward to it. This is an important game, because success comes from momentum and we're trying to do that on this tour so we need to get back to a win this weekend and take that into our game with Cardiff next week and then Wales. That would be great for the whole group."

Key to his ability to control the game will be how well his side compete with the hosts at the breakdown and who achieves the quicker supply of ball. That battle is no longer the exclusive preserve of the back rows, but they remain at the centre of it and Smith is relishing his chance to return to the starting line-up.

The openside flanker's second-ever Test was against Scotland at Murrayfield in November, 2000, and he has faced Scotland in each of the last seven meetings – only Stephen Larkham has played Scotland more times. He said: "It does feel a little bit different (not playing every Test], but I'm looking forward to facing Scotland again.

"Scotland are strong in the scrum area and have always had the desire against us to compete there, and have done well, and they take the ball to the breakdown pretty hard, so we're going to have to be diligent in that area and make sure the breakdown is clean.

"They are a side that doesn't give up and continues to try and attack the opposition. They believe in their own ability and play to their capabilities, and I guess they'll think they have a chance against us so it's going to be tough."

There does not appear to be any sign of complacency creeping into the tourists' camp then, merely an expectation of an explosive but highly technical battle of skills at Murrayfield tomorrow.

AUSTRALIA:

Team to play Scotland at Murrayfield tomorrow, kick-off 5.15pm

15 A Ashley-Cooper (ACT)

14 P Hynes, (Queensland)

13 D Ioane (Queensland)

12 Q Cooper (Queensland)

11 D Mitchell (NSW)

10 M Giteau (ACT) 9 W Genia (Queensland)

1 B Robinson (NSW)

2 S Moore (ACT)

3 B Alexander (ACT)

4 J Horwill (Queensland)

5 M Chisholm (ACT)

6 R Elsom (ACT, capt)

8 W Palu (NSW)

7 G Smith (ACT)

Subs: T Polota-Nau (NSW), S Kepu (NSW), D Mumm (NSW), R Brown (Force), L Burgess (NSW), R Cross (Force), J O'Connor (Force)