The great thing about sport is it is a matter of opinions, and sometimes no one is right and no one is wrong.
The one thing last weekend’s defeat for the Wallabies against the Springboks showed is he has wonderful individual skill, and great vision on a rugby pitch. It also showed that the fly half of five-eighth position might not be his best. I believe that Australia should in fact start looking for a number 10 and move Giteau to 12 where he is more effective.
A number 10 is expected to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and dictate play. Giteau appears to lack this ability, despite showing wonderful improvisation on an individual level. As one former South African test player stated at the weekend, he is a luxury and would probably not make it into the Springbok side unless he changed his ways. Unpredictable brilliance such as Giteau possesses is great and can surprise the opposition, but it can also unsettle your own team if you are not sure what they are going to do. At 10 Giteau may be an unsettling influence.
There is no doubt that the supply that he received from Burgess was very poor, some of this down to the half back receiving the ball under pressure, but again a quality scrum half will turn poor ball into good ball. Will Genia, looks far more comfortable in the number nine shirt than anyone else since Gregan hung up his boots.
Quade Cooper looks a better choice at 10 than Giteau. With a year to go before the World Cup let us hope that Robbie Deans decides whom he thinks is the best suited to that role, and sticks with the player chosen.
In my opinion, Giteau is better at twelve than he is at ten, but that is only my opinion.
