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Wallabies halves Luke Burgess, Matt Giteau must improve communication
From Wayne Smith in Paris, France
November 22, 2008
LUKE Burgess and Matt Giteau are good talkers, to say the least, so it was something of a surprise that the lines of communicaton between Australia's halves broke down at Twickenham last Sunday.
One of the few discordant notes of the Wallabies' otherwise melodious win over England was the number of times half-back Burgess was "sacked" by the defence when he couldn't decide which way to go after taking the ball from the ruck base.
Given how quickly Burgess gets to each breakdown and burrows into the ruck in search of quick ball, there is never going to be a lot of time for a "heads-up" reconnaissance before he sets off for a dart. That's where he needs to hear plenty of chatter, five-eighth Giteau the player best placed to provide it.
"They have to make sure they're on the same page," assistant coach Jim Williams said. "They have to work on their relationship, on their communication. That's one of those things that can happen.
"The better relationship they have, those situations can be handled the right way. But it's a work in progress."
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Given that Burgess and Giteau have started only eight Tests together - although they had a virtual ninth in tandem, after Giteau came off the bench early to replace the injured Berrick Barnes against Italy - the partnership already is showing signs of blossoming into one of the great halves pairings in the Australian game.
Burgess has struggled with flu all week and has been quieter as a result.
"When he's well, he's an irritation, like all good No.9s," Williams said.
But it is Giteau who is developing into the real irritant as far as opposing sides are concerned. Giteau might be playing his first full season as a Test five-eighth, but he bears arguably the heaviest individual load of any player in the side.
"The way we play, he is an integral part of our game," Williams said. "He makes a lot of decisions. His kicking and goal kicking are excellent. He carries a lot of responsibility and has handled it very well."
In terms of skill mix, Williams places Giteau "pretty much in between" Australia's two foremost five-eighths of the past two decades, Michael Lynagh and Steve Larkham.
Although both were pretty much complete players, Lynagh will always be remembered for his tactical kicking and Larkham for his ability to take the ball to the line and then deliver the perfect pass to the right runner.
In Giteau, the Wallabies have a five-eighth who is becoming the total package.
Ironically, given that he has made his reputation mostly as a ball-runner, Giteau's field position game is causing the French most concern going into the Test at Stade de France.
Indeed, the French were complaining on match eve that their own officials had sabotaged them by agreeing to a 9pm kick-off, which they are convinced will favour the Wallabies - and all because of Giteau.
"A dry pitch, no humidity would have been better," France flanker Fulgence Oudraogo said.
"We want to play a wide game whereas the Australians like to kick the ball for territorial advantage and don't take risks in their own half."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html