The goal-kicking custom that Matt Giteau just can't get his head around
Matt Giteau may have played over 300 first-class professional games of rugby but there’s one European custom that he’s never adjusted to.
Giteau, who has often been handed the goal-kicking duties – whether it’s for the Wallabies, Brumbies or Toulon – is completely used to slotting the ball between the posts with a crowd roaring in the background, even if it’s the opposition’s supporters screaming blue murder from the stands.
Young Brumbies first five Noah Lolesio has been revolutionary for Matt Giteau’s former side in 2020:
Something the Australian centurion never got to grips with during his time in Europe, however, was the tradition for fans to ‘respect the kicker’ – which translates to stadiums going deathly quiet whenever the sharpshooters are lining up for a shot at goal.
“I wasn’t ready for it,” Giteau told RugbyPass about the European convention.
“When we went to Ireland, I actually didn’t know about it the first time we played a Test there and everyone went quiet. I was like, ‘what is this?’”
While it’s an age-old tradition in places like Munster, the eerie silence has descended upon many a ground in Europe, with a number of Irish, British and French teams all adopting the convention in recent times.
“For whatever reason, through my review, I hadn’t picked up any of that,” said Giteau about the first time he was forced to take a shot at goal in silence.
“When you go to training you’ve got boys screaming. You never really practise in total silence.
“I always found it pretty hard.”
In fact, it’s the size and behaviour of the crowds that 37-year-old Giteau has identified as one of the major differences between playing rugby in Europe and playing rugby in Japan, where the former Wallaby is winding down his career.
“That was probably the biggest shock,” Giteau said.
“When I first went to France, the size of the crowds and how passionate they were was incredible. And then to go to Japan…
“Sometimes I’d be warming up, passing the football and there would be no one in the stands. I’d be thinking ‘what am I doing here?’”
Noah Lolesio has been a revelation for @BrumbiesRugby this season – but its only recently that he's actually moved into the 10 role. #SuperRugby #Wallabies https://t.co/Wp01EgwsNo
— Tom Vinicombe (@TomVinicombe) March 29, 2020
While there’s fierce provincial rivalry in the Top 14, it’s a completely different landscape in Japan’s Top League, with each side representing a major conglomerate.
“When you represent a company, it’s a bit different as far as trying to get fans to really get behind your team,” said Giteau. “People might drink Suntory beer but they have a Panasonic fridge.”
That all changed in 2020, however, on the back of Japan’s incredible run at last year’s World Cup.
“Since the World Cup and the success they had, the crowds have been massive,” Giteau said.
“The players have turned into superstars, they go into hiding, there’s genuinely paparazzi running around.
“It’s a great experience for them, great for the country and great for rugby – the difference has been huge.”
While the Top League has been called to a halt due to coronavirus, crowds were incredibly healthy in the first health of the season with upwards of 20,000 screaming supporters regularly showing up to see some icons of the game take the field.
Over 37,000 fans attended the January match between the Panasonic Wild Knights (coached by one of Giteau’s former bosses at the Wallabies, Robbie Deans) and the Kobelco Steelers, setting a new competition record.
Giteau is currently in his final season with Suntory Sungoliath and is hopeful that his club will get to play at least one more game this year before he calls time on his professional playing days.
Comments on RugbyPass
anybody who bends at the waist when they tackle
3 Go to commentsThe evidence is not strong that this is necessary. Mounga choked on clutch kicks in the WRC final and lost the match by not performing his core goal kicking role to the level required. He also choked in the Semi final against England and was targeted as the weak point in the defence allowing them to score. Not a test great frankly. Why bend the rules for a player that is competent but not brilliant at test level?
11 Go to commentsDear Robbie, Please return to the Crusaders next season. Sincerely, Scott
1 Go to commentsDid the big E call the Irish the ‘White Can’ts’? That would’ve been good
30 Go to commentsDalton Papalii will be lucky to be selected on the Matchday 23. Ardie Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, and Peter Lauki are all as good or better openside flankers
9 Go to commentsScott Barrett is a lock and they have a much longer shelf life than a loose forward. Far more likely that Barrett will still demand a starting position based on performance at age 33 at RWC 2027 than Savea, whose explosive athleticism will have declined and he will in all likelihood have been surpassed by Hoskins Sotutu, Wallace Siti, Peter Lauki and Brayden Iose.
9 Go to commentsExtremely frustrating to get yet more speculation over whether or not Eben actually counted 12 players or not, but honestly big respect to McCloskey for keeping it classy and not pointing out Etzebeth’s hypocrisy. The Irish are a popular team outside of Ireland because they do their talking on the pitch, and its honestly a PR masterclass that they’re keeping it that way following Etzebeth’s provocation.
30 Go to commentsGood option for the lineout lost there.
1 Go to commentsIt’s not like Saffas have a long history of spouting absolute shite at any & every occasion. Oh wait… The dangers of an inferior third world education strike again.
30 Go to commentsI’m so glad we’re revisiting this. Really needs to be dissected further. I’m also so glad that a guy in the stands who wasn’t anywhere near the field when any of it would have been said (and even confirms this) has taken the lead and commented as Ireland. Definitely cleared it all up. This article would be hilarious if it wasn’t so misleading.
30 Go to commentsits such a shame he hasn’t achieved more success at club level. He’s really not been a potent finisher for a while now, but he’s still excellent in the kick chase. That’s the kind of skillset that generally only gets appreciated when you’re playing in premiership and european finals. I’m not sure whether the challenge cup counts given the quality of the competition seems lower than in previous years, but his duel with Mapimpi should be enthralling.
1 Go to commentsThe point is the irish players were arrogant,call it like you want sugar coat it aswell but they were you could see it in their way they handeled themselfs on the field when they got something right so dont tell me it was not arrogance it was,you can fool other people but not me,and to say to one of our players see you in the final put a nail in the coffin for this bullsh@t,just be grown men and accept it that you were arrogant,you could if seen it from a mile away, and then you lost to the allblacks what a cocky move that didnt work out for you ,Eben was right when he said u were arrogant,the point is you will deny it because you lost it all just grow some balls and move on we had won you lost accept it.
30 Go to comments“summer tour of North and South America” so its a summer tour of america?
1 Go to commentsEverybody is giving the Irish players the benefit of the doubt in ‘what they meant’, but none of these pundits or commentators offer the same courtesy to Eben. I don’t think Eben went, 1, 2, 3… etc. What might have happened is he didn’t count and when the 3rd or 5th guy said he went, hang on why are so many of them saying this… and then started to concentrate on it more and more as players continue to say it. So no, he didn’t count it, he realised many Irish players said it and made an assumption based on that… The Irish team was VERY confident at the time and I do believe they believed they were going to win the World Cup, which borders a bit on the arrogant side…
30 Go to commentsI can see how some of the Irish players would have said”see you in the final” as a gentle comment after a victory. It’s open to interpretation but it’s clumsy language. I don’t know the fella but I assure you Eben doesn’t have an axe to grind with Ireland. He has never been the media seeking pro. Oh and BTW it is I’ll be our winter in July so won’t be wet.
30 Go to comments*McCloskey*: _I saw this clip. Like, I wasn’t playing that game; I was in the stands…so you don't know sh!t in other words, infact you know just as much as Goode on this matter. I will believe the guy who was on the pitch when things were said as appose to two people speculating over what was said._
30 Go to comments@ turlough dream on buddy. Your boys are in for one tough time down in sa this summer…
30 Go to commentsI think Goode is looking to establish a platform for himself. Eben said “Probably” so that suggests he wasn’t counting. It’s an estimate Goode. I think even with your short and uneventful experience with the Sharks you probably realise winding up Saffas will get you some airtime. It’s a none event. Move on
30 Go to commentsRugby has never been as structured and synthetically pleasing as it is at this moment. The game is simply beautiful and messing with it too much will ruin it for everyone. I can't help but feel that over the past decade or so many rules have been changed to accommodate a certain hemisphere and counter another. Perhaps I am wrong but I somehow don’t think so.
2 Go to commentsNoted some excellent defensive steals from the Rebs last week against the Reds, largely J Canham, I think. It’s not a Rolls Royce but they are a real threat with their defensive line out at the beginning matches. What do you make of Canham Nick, WBs squad material?
86 Go to comments