Elton Flatley: Matt Giteau’s recall damages Wales’ chances

Matt GiteauMatt Giteau's Australian reinstatement will put in greater World Cup danger than , according to the Wallaby who almost changed rugby history.
Elton Flatley, whose extra-time goal during the 2003 final took England to within 30 seconds of a penalty shoot-out, warns that Giteau's presence will increase the likelihood of extending their long winning run over Wales at Twickenham on October 10.
‘'Matt is a champion rugby player who has proved time and again that he knows how to win big matches,'' Flatley told The Rugby Paper from his home on Australia's Gold Coast. ‘'He hasn't played Test footy for a few years but he will slot straight back in because he's world-class.
“I applaud the Australian Rugby Union for welcoming him back into the fold. He will bring an awful lot of know-how in driving them around the park from the 10-12 area of a Wallaby squad which lacks depth in certain areas.
“As a midfield general, he will really have a big in-put.  He's rugby-smart, he's got nearly a hundred caps and he would have around 140 by now had he not gone to Europe. He ticks all the boxes.''
Giteau, first capped alongside Flatley against England 13 years ago, played the last of his 92 internationals four years ago before joining which effectively put him in Test exile.The ARU's decision to lift the ban as it applied to Giteau also clears the way for another Toulon émigré, wing Drew Mitchell.
Australia face England at Twickenham on October 3 before tackling Wales seven days later in the definitive ‘Pool of Death'. Wales have lost ten on the bounce to Australia and Flatley believes they are more vulnerable to the Giteau-stimulated Wallabies than England.
“England at Twickenham will be exceptionally hard for Australia,'' says Flatley, forced to retire in 2006 at the age of 28 because of recurring concussion. “The Poms usually perform well at World Cups because their programmes are designed to ensure that.
“They have a good record against us whereas we've had the wood on Wales for sometime. There have been some close games but in recent years we've always shaded it. That gives you real belief.
“Home advantage will be huge.  Wales at the Millennium would be a different scenario but Wales at Twickenham definitely helps Australia.
“Five years ago Super XV was definitely of a higher standard than the European Cup. Now there's nothing to choose between the competitions and one of the reasons why Europe have closed the gap is because they some of the best players in the world, like Giteau (below).
“He will also bring a vast knowledge of the European game and the English and Welsh players.
“Now, suddenly, we have not just one world-class player available again but another in Mitchell.”
Both will make the closest inspection of HQ next Saturday in the Champions' Cup final against when Giteau will be appearing in his third successive final.
Wallaby coach Michael Cheika will have the luxury of reintroducing both for the truncated Rugby starting against the Springboks in Brisbane on July 18, the beginning of a four-match run into the World Cup.
Australia will play three other Tests, two against and one against before their opening World Cup tie against in on September 23. Giteau, whose teenage talent earned him the nickname ‘Kid Dynamite', will be 33 the following week.
He and Flatley, his predecessor at fly half-cum-inside centre, both played in the famous 2003 final when Flatley's extra-time penalty levelled scores at 17-17 with three minutes left.
“It was one of the great nights of rugby, anytime, anywhere,'' he says. “For us it went wrong at the very end but we were proud of our efforts. We beat a good Kiwi team in the semis and we took an outstanding England team with x-factor players like Jason Robinson and Jonny Wilkinson all the way.''
PETER JACKSON

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