Matt Giteau’s exit from the Wallabies squad has been like a slow, dripping tap that has taken more than two years to be turned off.

Ultimately, it came down to the Wallabies management – and not just coach Robbie Deans – having concerns that apart from opposing teams having ”worked Giteau out”, the Test midfielder had fallen short of the mark on several occasions when on-field pressure was applied.

The first real clue Deans and Giteau were not bosom buddies came in 2009, when the coach overlooked him for the vice-captaincy. Although the pair insisted they got on well, the reality was different.

Deans had his problems relating to Giteau, while the player believed that, considering his seniority in the Wallabies squad, that he deserved more responsibility within the group. That he was not considered for major leadership roles hurt him.

It was all on show in a memorable photograph taken at the time at the Wallabies team hotel in Coogee by the Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter Rae.
Matt Giteau’s exit from the Wallabies squad has been like a slow, dripping tap that has taken more than two years to be turned off.

Ultimately, it came down to the Wallabies management – and not just coach Robbie Deans – having concerns that apart from opposing teams having ”worked Giteau out”, the Test midfielder had fallen short of the mark on several occasions when on-field pressure was applied.

The first real clue Deans and Giteau were not bosom buddies came in 2009, when the coach overlooked him for the vice-captaincy. Although the pair insisted they got on well, the reality was different.

Deans had his problems relating to Giteau, while the player believed that, considering his seniority in the Wallabies squad, that he deserved more responsibility within the group. That he was not considered for major leadership roles hurt him.

It was all on show in a memorable photograph taken at the time at the Wallabies team hotel in Coogee by the Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter Rae.

The situation was not helped later that year when Giteau had the chance to secure an Australian victory over Scotland at Murrayfield by kicking several relatively easy shots at goal. Instead Giteau missed four of his five goal attempts, and the Wallabies suffered one of their most embarrassing of defeats. Scotland’s first win over Australia in 27 years infuriated the Wallabies coaching staff and several heavy-hitters at the Australian Rugby Union’s head offices in Crows Nest because they thought this terrible moment could have been avoided. From that point, Giteau’s future with the Wallabies was clouded.

When Giteau’s goalkicking was astray in several other Tests, it prompted team officials to question his ability to handle the big moments. The ARU began to query whether it was getting value for money from one of Australia’s highest-paid players.

The selectors persevered with Giteau, however, because of his ability to play so many positions and because on his day he was as good as any international midfielder.

His last chance to show he was a proper on-field leader came at the start of this year’s international season when he was selected at five-eighth against Samoa. While Giteau was nowhere near the worst Australian player on the field, the defeat did not help his cause.

Shortly after, Giteau was told by team management he had become too predictable, and that opponents had worked him out. Giteau stood up for himself, arguing that he would be better served if he were playing in his more natural position at No.12, but was told he would have to join the queue, as the Wallabies had several midfield options.

Then Berrick Barnes, whom Deans has in the past pushed as a leader, again made himself available, and as Giteau put it: ”Thank u ballboys, thank u linesman! That’s it …”

Giteau’s only hope now of gaining a recall is if Quade Cooper or Barnes fall over.