Mitchell and Giteau survive the subbies banter

Mitchell and Giteau survive the subbies banter

JOSH RAKIC
August 15, 2010

''YOU can't drop me. I'm the greatest player the club's ever had.''

No, Giteau wasn't in Brumby land this weekend...

Those were the words of hefty Balmain five-eighth Sam Manion and he got his wish, with Matt Giteau turning out at inside-centre when the Wallabies No.12 and teammate Drew Mitchell lent their services to the third-division sub-districts side yesterday against Epping.

With the grudging approval of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and ARU boss John O'Neill, the Wallabies duo took to Blackmore Park in Sydney's inner west as a favour to sponsor Warren Livingstone, founder of the Fanatics.

Their class was evident from their first touches, a quick hot-potato ball from Giteau to Mitchell resulting in the first of many tries for the Balmain side in the very next phase.

Giteau slotted his only kick at goal with a smile despite his opponents reminding him of his recent poor kicking record.

Mitchell set up one try and scored a runaway five-pointer at the 30th before joining Giteau on the bench.

The ARU had restricted both to 30 minutes on the field.

''I set him up with four or five and he bombed them, so it was good to finally see him score one,'' a relaxed Giteau joked afterwards.

''It's important to play grassroots rugby. It was a great idea by Drew and luckily I could come on board.

''He worked me over, he knew my schedule and knew I couldn't get out of it. It was enjoyable and in the future I definitely would play again.''

Fans and media representatives swamped both players, who handled the attention with aplomb.

''It wasn't like [Epping] didn't hit hard,'' Mitchell said. ''There was a bit of banter about trying to put a hit on the Wallabies boys and they didn't treat us any differently. Maybe harder.

''But there were no invitations to step into the car park afterwards,'' he laughed, referring to an encounter with Penrith players a few weeks ago.

Giteau dodged trees rather than tackling bags in the muddy warm-up area that resembled bush more than back oval, taking orders from his confident five-eighth like a schoolboy making his first-grade debut. Mitchell, who already has an affiliation with the club after signing on when he moved to Sydney from Perth, just smiled as he received treatment to his legs.

More than 1000 fans, including one Lote Tuqiri, packed a soft and bare Blackmore Park, which had been vandalised just a week earlier.

''It took a bit of getting used to, the deck,'' Mitchell said.

''I'd pick the loose balls up off the ground and go to take off and the legs wouldn't come with me.''