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Experts tip Giteau, Cordingley as new Wallabies halves
By Iain Payten Experts tip Giteau, Cordingley as new Wallabies halves | The Daily Telegraph
March 28, 2008 12:00am
MATT Giteau's sublime form in the Super 14's first half demands his installation as Stephen Larkham's successor as the Wallaby No. 10, according to a range of experts including Larkham.
And a majority believe Giteau's scrumbase partner and replacement for fellow retiree George Gregan should be Queensland halfback Sam Cordingley.
With the Super 14 entering its halfway point this weekend and Australia's first Test under Robbie Deans 10 weeks away, The Daily Telegraph canvassed opinions on who should fill the huge hole left by the departure of the 242-Test Gregan-Larkham duo.
And in a rugby nation where disagreement is par for the course, former Wallabies figures Larkham, Tim Horan, Greg Martin, John Connolly and Scott Johnson were largely singing the same tune of a Cordingley-Giteau combination this winter.
"Cordingley's length of pass is what suits Giteau, who would be the number one, two and three choice five-eighth," Martin said.
Five-Eighth Intending to start afresh with selections, Deans has declared boldly that there "are no Wallabies".
But after acknowledging Giteau's importance, Deans left the the door open to play "Kid Dynamite" at either five-eighth or inside centre, having long favoured a ball-playing 12 like Aaron Mauger.
The stunning form of Giteau at 10 this year for the Force, however, could force his hand.
"'Gits' is obviously playing really well. He obviously has a foot in the door," Larkham says. "It's really where Mat wants to play, he is that skilful. You would pick the backline around him. I know he has been comfortable playing 12, but he appears just as comfortable playing 10 now."
Horan, who played 10 and 12 in a 80-Test Wallabies career, concurs.
"Giteau has put his hand up fairly high. He is probably mature enough to take that position now," Horan said. "He has learned a lot over the last three or four years with Steve (Larkham) at 10. He is ready to take charge of the team at 10."
Johnson, Wallabies backs coach at last year's World Cup, also can't go past Giteau.
"He is not a young bloke any more, people forget he is 26 this year. He is a mature Test player now," he said.
Johnson believes Australia is blessed with unprecedented emerging depth at five-eighth, with Berrick Barnes (21), Quade Cooper (19), Kurtley Beale (19), Christian Lealiifano (20) and Matt Toomua (18) all coming through.
"We are probably on the verge of a golden era of 10s," he said. "If Giteau takes us through a couple of years, the others are all going to be knocking on the door at the same time and quality players won't play Test football. There won't be a country with that depth, New Zealand included."
With Barnes - the Test incumbent - injured or playing centre, Giteau is a mile ahead of his rookie rivals statistically. He has the most metres run and kicked, is the best attacking pivot and has missed the least tackles.
HalfbackConnolly is straight to the point about his picks.
"It'd have to be Cordingley-Giteau. That seems to be most people's position, you won't get too many in disagreement," the previous Wallabies coach says.
Though challenged by youngsters Josh Holmes, Brett Sheehan, Josh Valentine, Luke Burgess and James Stannard, 31-year-old Cordingley is Gregan's favoured successor after long being his understudy.
"You give Giteau a little extra room it's trouble. Well, you give him another two metres with Cordingley's pass," Martin says. "He has the kicking game, he's tough, he can defend and he still has plenty of pace to snipe."
Larkham remains undecided but Horan takes a similar line to Martin.
"(Cordingley) has the experience, and you'd put a younger player on the bench you want to bring through," Horan says. "His pass is two metres longer and flatter than any other halfback in the competition, and he can be a ninth forward. He is able to push Matt Giteau on the outside of players."
Johnson sees selectors going "traditional" with Cordingley to add to his 14 Test caps but would have NSW's Burgess in reserve.
"I like him. He'd be my attacking bench option," Johnson adds.
Sheehan's name is the only alternative thrown up. Statistics show the tough Waratah is the busiest half with most runs, tackles and kicks.
"It is difficult, however, to pin down stats on a halfback in terms of length of pass, quality of pass and general decision-making, so there's definitely an argument for Cordingley on those fronts," FoxSport Stats' Sam Mueller says.