GITEAU WANTS CHANCE TO TAUNT JONNY

WORLD CUPS can destroy friendships, and it’s no different among rugby royalty. ‘Jonny won’t answer my calls this week, and I’ve been trying him a lot,’ laughs Australia centre Matt Giteau, talking about his former Toulon team-mate and close friend Jonny Wilkinson. ‘He won’t answer me this week, so maybe next week. Will I make him feel guilty if we go a long way in the tournament and England didn’t? Oh, I’d make him feel guilty. I’d make him feel very guilty.’ All of this is said with a grin that illustrates how much Giteau — whom Wilkinson last week labelled ‘a once-in-a-generation player’ — is enjoying his second coming in international rugby. Formerly Australia’s boy wonder, he gave it all up when moving to Toulon in 2011. Australia, like England, had a policy not to pick foreign-based players, so Giteau (below) watched last November’s Test between the two countries in a Twickenham corporate box, making regular trips to the free bar. Then, in April this year, the rules were relaxed so Wallabies with over 60 caps and at least seven years as a contracted ARU player would be considered, no matter where they were based. Dubbed ‘The Giteau Clause’, it meant the centre and his Toulon team-mate Drew Mitchell were parachuted straight back into the team. ‘Did I think I could come back and play for Australia? No, it never crossed my mind,’ said Giteau, 33. ‘Does it make it more special to get a second chance to play for Australia? Massively. ‘I suppose I’m more grateful than I was. When you’re playing consistently I think you take it for granted — it’s a shocking thing to take it for granted, playing for your country. ‘And little things, like getting your kit again, I felt like I was 19 when I first came back. I certainly take nothing for granted now.’ But does he have any sympathy for Toulon team-mate Steffon Armitage after Stuart Lancaster stuck to his selection policy? ‘Steff’s made it pretty clear he wants to be in the England team,’ said Giteau. Everyone wants to play for their country — whether it’s rugby, cricket — and Stef’s no different.’ Giteau has faced England twice before at World Cups and lost both times — as a 21-year-old replacement in the 2003 final and as a starting centre in the quarter-final four years later. ‘In 2003 it all happened really fast,’ he added. ‘While I was devastated at losing, I thought, “I’ll get the opportunity at the next World Cup”, but it doesn’t happen that easy. ‘It’s such a tough competition, and that’s the one thing I’ve learned — you’ve got to cherish every game and play every game like it’s a World Cup final.’ And maybe follow it up with a phone-call to a former England fly-half.