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Giteau to seek move to France, says report
Rupert Guinness and Greg Growden in Cardiff | November 28, 2008
TEST five-eighth Matt Giteau will seek a release from the Australian Rugby Union to play in France, according to a French media report.
Giteau wants the ARU to grant him permission to play in France before the next World Cup in 2011, possibly as early as next year, according to French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique's Monday edition.
It was reported Giteau wants a short-term release to play in France similar to the deal All Blacks five-eighth Daniel Carter struck with the New Zealand Rugby Union to sign with Perpignan.
"After the tour, I am going to discuss with the federation to see if it will authorise me to get some experience in France c like what the NZRU did with Carter," Giteau was quoted as saying. "It would be fantastic. I adore your country, your way of life, your food, the croissants at breakfast c"
Giteau did not say what year he would like to play in France but he was quoted as saying he wants to do it "before the next World Cup".
Giteau is contracted with the ARU until the end of 2011, but his deal to play for the Western Force expires after next season. However, he is in dispute with the franchise over money he is owed from the third-party sponsorship he had with Firepower, and there are reports he wants to leave the Force immediately.
Giteau has been tight-lipped on the Force/Firepower issue but was quoted in Midi Olympique as saying: "I am going to settle all that with my agent as soon as I return to Australia."
Wales are the only side left that can redeem northern hemisphere rugby, with the Tri Nations tourists all-conquering so far.
In the 18 matches involving the leading teams of the two hemispheres during the past year, the victory tally stands at 18-0 to the SANZAR sides over the Six Nations outfits. With England rated little chance of stopping the All Blacks on Saturday, the northerners have turned their attention to Millennium Stadium, believing Wales are their last hope. It may not be a forlorn one, either, as the Six Nations champions have a good record against the Wallabies in recent years.
That does not hide the fact that the northern hemisphere teams are a long way behind their southern counterparts - as shown by the International Rugby Board rankings, which have New Zealand, South Africa and Australia holding the top three spots, followed by Argentina. England are fifth, followed by Wales, France, Ireland and Scotland.
Even more revealing were statistics in The Guardian this week. Rugby writer Paul Rees reported that since the game turned professional, the Six Nations teams' success rate against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand had declined substantially.
In the amateur era, the success rate was 28.9 per cent. In the professional era, despite England's 12 victories over the southern powers from 2000 to 2003, it has been 19.3 per cent.
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...491741075.html
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