Dwyer: Giteau 'a must at pivot'

[Burgs]

Giteau 'a must at pivot'

By Jon Geddes
May 30, 2007

RUGBY World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer has called for a revamped Australia backline for the tournament later this year, calling for Matt Giteau to play five-eighth with Steve Larkham relegated to the bench.

The man responsible for guiding the 1991 Wallabies to Rugby World Cup success would also run a new centre combination, with Stirling Mortlock, at No.12, teaming with former NRL star Ryan Cross.

But his boldest move would be to leave Larkham, whom many judges regard as the most crucial figure in Australia's hopes for 2007 Rugby World Cup success, out of the starting side.

"I think he is running across field too much," Dwyer said, adding that teams have become smarter in thinking of ways to nullify his attacking brilliance.

The crucial factor in picking the backline centres on how to make the best use of Giteau's extraordinary talents.

Dwyer says Giteau can do the job equally well at halfback, five-eighth or inside centre.

"But I don't think we can afford to keep him away from either 10 or 12," Dwyer said.

"And would he get enough decent ball if he was at inside centre?"

Dwyer's preference would be to play Giteau at No.10, in which position he spent time with Western Force this season and can provide three or four options in attack.

In Dwyer's backline, not one player would start in the position they did in last Saturday's underwhelming win over Wales.

Australia had several good halfbacks - George Gregan, Sam Cordingley, Matt Henjak and Josh Holmes - who could fill the scrumbase role, Dwyer said.

Henjak has fallen out of favour with selectors, but Dwyer said he was "clearly the best defender in the halfback department".

Dwyer said selectors felt Henjak lacked pace but he got to 19 out of 20 breakdowns where some of his rivals would be lucky to make 50 per cent.

Dwyer believes Mortlock and Cross would give the Wallabies strength and pace in the centres.

Mortlock might not be a recognised ballplayer, but neither was Tim Horan, one of the greatest players to wear the No.12 jumper at Test level, Dwyer said.

And Cross had really come on in his first season with Force.

Lote Tuqiri and Cameron Shepherd were Dwyer's first-choice wings, with Chris Latham at full back.

Clinton Schifocfske, Drew Mitchell and Mark Gerrard were all good back-ups in the back three, Dwyer said.

[hopep]

Dwyers old school but still knows a lot about picking players.

He simple confirms what TWF posters have been saying for ages!

Hey! Does that make us all rugby savvy?

[frontrow]

Dwyer backing the Jak, that proves it for mine...Connolly (and selectors) is giving him the cold shoulder for past indescretions...I would wager a dwyer led team would easily account for a connolly led team...Alan Jones led team, likewise...

[hopep]

I knew I was amongst the rugby inteligensia when I smelt all those tight five's on the list

[AndyS]

Dwyers old school but still knows a lot about picking players.

He simple confirms what TWF posters have been saying for ages!

Hey! Does that make us all rugby savvy?

Or he's out surfing the net...

[jazza93]

its a good idea but i dont know if it would beat larkham, giteau, mortlock. whenever larkham gets the ball at 10 he always looks dangerous. i dont think he runs sideways much but when he does he creates something.

he is right about cross though maybe he should come on for 20 mins and they should try that idea.

[travelling_gerry]

opinions are like bumholes....everyone has them

[WF2006]

Don't often disagree with Dwyers opinions - and this is no exception.