Matt Giteau

The fourth player to surpass 400 points for Australia, MATT GITEAU relished a return to his more regular position of flyhalf in 2008, after having dabbled with halfback during the latter stages of the John Connolly era. Together with Luke Burgess (inside him at halfback) and Berrick Barnes one spot further out (at inside centre), Giteau formed an impressive tactical unit, which promises to direct Wallaby attacking operations for many years to come. Even though he is only 26, the diehard Chelsea Football Club fan is already well on his way towards a second half century of Test match appearances, having already participated in two Rugby World Cups. As well as his tactical nous, Giteau has made great strides with his goal kicking thus far in 2008, finishing the 14-Test programme with an impressive 85 percent success rate, after he kicked 55 from 65 attempts.

2001   Represented the Australian Sevens and Under 21s teams and won a Colts Premiership with Easts in Canberra.

2002   Was a surprise selection on the Spring Tour, having not played a Super 12 game to this point of his career. Made his Test debut as a replacement against England at Twickenham.

2003   Scored a hat trick of tries in his first Test start against Namibia, and came on as a replacement in the Rugby World Cup Final. Earlier in the year, he had made his Super rugby debut for the Brumbies.

2004   Established a place in the Wallaby starting XV, featuring at inside centre in 11 of the Wallabies’ 12 Tests for the year. Was also a key member of the Super 12-winning Brumbies.

2005   Started the Test season with two man of the match performances against Samoa and Italy and played two matches in the Number 10 jersey.

2006   Missed the opening three Tests of the winter with a knee injury, but announced his return with a two-try haul and man of the match performance in the record win over the Springboks in Brisbane. Made an experimental switch to scrumhalf during the Wallabies Spring Tour, starting all four Tests in the Number 9.

2007   Played eight of his twelve matches at flyhalf for the Western Force, including his 50th Super Rugby match against the Brumbies in Canberra. Started the year at halfback for the Wallabies but then moved back to a more customary midfield role for the Tri-Nations and Rugby World Cup.

2008   Selected exclusively as a flyhalf for the Wallabies where he played all 14 Tests, also handling the goal-kicking, which allowed him to move into fourth position on the all-time Australian individual point-scoring table. His 20 points in the Cook Cup Test at Twickenham was the second highest tally ever recorded by an Australian player against England.