Matt Giteau reveals why his globe-trotting 20-year odyssey is coming to an end
If you’re looking for a quintessential example of the modern-day rugby professional, then you need look no further than Matt Giteau.
The Canberra-born utility back spent his formative years with the Brumbies before heading west to join Perth’s Western Force in 2007.
After three years with the Force, Giteau ended his Super Rugby career back home with the Brumbies then headed to the Northern Hemisphere to spend some time with French heavy-spenders Toulon.
After six seasons and three European titles in the south of France, Giteau relocated to Tokyo to wind up his career with Suntory Sungoliath.
It’s a globe-trotting journey to rival Odysseus’ – and one which has probably now come to a premature end thanks to the current coronavirus pandemic.
“It was always decided that it was going to be my last year,” Giteau revealed to RugbyPass from his home in Australia.
“My kids are getting older now and it’s just harder and harder the time you spend away.”
Giteau’s two boys were both born during his French sojourn and they, along with Giteau’s wife Bianca, have spent the better part of his spell with Suntory living in Australia.
Former Wallaby Matt Giteau sat down with me to have a chat and reflected on one of the toughest period of his career – the build up to 2011. #wallabieshttps://t.co/J2mWsYKPy7
— Tom Vinicombe (@TomVinicombe) April 2, 2020
Thankfully, the Top League’s lengthy breaks haven’t made it too difficult for the family to remain connected, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been tough.
“Being in Japan… I enjoy it and I enjoy the culture; I love the team, I love the people but if I were to do it again, it’d feel like a really selfish decision for me,” Giteau said.
And there’s no doubt that Japan has been an incredible time for the globe-trotter.
“The people there are great, the food’s unbelievable, the language is impossible – I’ve never really got a handle on it,” said Giteau. “But yeah, I’ve really enjoyed it.”
From a rugby point of view, Giteau’s was shocked by something that many of Japan’s recent Top League migrants are still blown away by.
“At Toulon, I was one of the fitter guys and then once I got to Suntory I was at the back of the pack,” he said. “It was intense.
“The physicality is not the same but the amount of running and the intensity they do at training is something else. That was probably the hardest thing to readjust.
“That first, initial shock of the fitness and the amount of running that they expected – especially in my position, I found that pretty tough.”
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Giteau had heard good things about the Suntory club from his former Wallabies and Brumbies teammate George Smith, but Smith had never mentioned the tough fitness regime – not that it would have made a difference to Giteau’s expectations.
“George has never been a fit guy,” said Giteau. “If he ever told me it was tough, it could be any team he’s at, puffing along.
“For some reason, he’s game fit, but the running fitness he always struggles with, so it was never something he really told me about.”
Giteau and Smith’s relationship dates back to Giteau’s initial years with the Brumbies in Super Rugby.
Sydney-born Smith was signed by the Brumbies for the 1999 season and Giteau joined him at the Eddie Jones’ coached side two years later.
Smith’s arrival at the Canberra side coincided with a rise in the Brumbies’ fortunes. They jumped from 10th to 5th place in Smith’s first year, made the final in 2000 and then, in Giteau’s first year with the side, won their first-ever Super Rugby title.
Three years later, they were crowned champions once more.
Giteau spent eight years with the Brumbies altogether, sandwiched around his three-year stint with the Force, before heading to France in 2011.
Despite the likely move from Japan back to Australia and the fact that his body is still holding up well, Giteau isn’t planning on lacing up the boots for a second send-off with the Brumbies.
“I still support the Brumbies,” Giteau said. “I still love watching the boys plays.
“But Super Rugby, for me, as soon as I left… It didn’t interest me anymore, other than as a spectator.
Our series continues with an examination of the roles and responsibilities required to build the perfect inside centre, according to @alexshawsport.https://t.co/SriDY3lPjf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 20, 2020
“There was never one game where I was watching Super Rugby and thinking ‘gee I wouldn’t mind playing this game today’ – not once.”
Could that be because the playmaker was graced with two titles so early in his career?
“Yeah, potentially,” said Giteau.
“I don’t know, it’s a hard one to answer hypothetically. Early on, I was fortunate to win one. That’s a hard one… I suppose so – although, I never won a Bledisloe and when I watch those, I don’t feel like playing those anymore.”
Giteau further poured cold water on any chances of a miraculous return for the Wallabies.
“It’s similar now when I watch Test footy,” he said. “I was doing a bit of corporate work at the World Cup and you get there and the buzz and excitement around it is actually quite cool and you feel like playing – but you forget about that week that went into getting ready for the game.
“As soon as you remember that mental prep and everything that you need to do, you very quickly felt comfortable being just a spectator.”
And while Giteau must remind himself sometimes of the tougher moments in order to not get too nostalgic about the past, his 20-year professional career is paved with incredible memories.
“I remember pretty much every game I’ve played,” Giteau said.
“You remember the emotions you go through, you remember getting picked for teams. I think that type of buzz never really goes away, no matter how long you’re there. Having a good win with the team, celebrating with the boys or a special move coming off… Those type of things, you never lose that enjoyment for rugby.
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“Even though I’m paid to play sport, it’s always been about the fun and enjoying it.”
The focus is now shifting for Giteau, however, with the time spent away from his boys becoming tougher and tougher.
“I’ve never known any different; I’ve always had them with me,” Giteau said. “They were born in France, we were obviously living together in France, they came over to Japan for a year.”
“When they first left, it was pretty hard – but I’ve always loved footy and I knew that I was making this commitment and sacrifice for the right reasons for my family.
“Still, that was probably the only period where I wondered if it was really worth it. Like, I love footy, but is it worth the loneliness so much? Because you have a lot of downtime.
“There’s no doubt that it was tough at times but, ultimately, I’m getting paid to played rugby. Again, that perspective comes back to it. If you allow yourself to play the victim, it’s very easy, so I just try to stay as positive as I can and enjoy my rugby – which I was able to do.
And while Giteau will be disappointed to have his final season of professional rugby cut short, the opportunity to spend more time with his friends and family in Australia is the obvious, massive silver lining.
“It’s not ideal but there are more pressing issues in the world – like I said, perspective’s a big thing.
“While I would’ve liked to end it differently, playing footy and trying to give everything I could for Suntory… If this is the end, then this is the end.”
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
60 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
60 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
60 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
60 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
60 Go to comments