Rugby World Cup
Matt Giteau return ensures Australia no longer one-trick ponies
Sam Bruce
October 4, 2015
England 13-33 Australia (Australia only)

Much has been made of Matt Giteau's return to the Wallabies yet arguably his most important asset had largely been overlooked before Saturday night's memorable triumph over England at Twickenham.

Australia produced their finest display of the Michael Cheika era to record a 33-13 victory that sent the hosts tumbling out of their own Rugby World Cup, and sent those at Twickenham home thinking they'd seen a side worthy of the tournament's decider.

Playmaker Bernard Foley was the star of the show and rightly received most of the post-match praise for a virtuoso performance that included two tries and a perfect seven from seven with the boot in a 28-point haul. But just as important was his combination with Giteau, particularly after points, for the 97-Test veteran's left boot means the Wallabies are no longer a one-trick pony when trying to clear their line.

Matt Giteau dives over to score a try
Matt Giteau dives over to score a try© Mitchell Gunn/Getty Images

"Yeah, it's handy to have both sides of the field, obviously, you know, and it gives us the option," Cheika said when asked about the importance of Giteau's left boot.

"It's all about getting it on a platform too; a good catch and then certainty about what we're going to do then because they put some pressure on us. We concentrated well on those parts of the game because it is very important to come out [well] of when you do score, or so I'm learning, you know, score and then reset yourself, put yourself back in the game nicely and keep your opposition on the back foot.

England just didn't perform
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"And here, in particular, you've not only got to keep your opposition out of the game, you've got to keep the crowd out of the game because that's like a tsunami coming, that noise, and it can really energise a team. There's no doubt about it."

The Wallabies exited their own line with aplomb on just about every occasion at Twickenham on Saturday night, ensuring even the most passionate of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot renditions -- of which there were many -- were short and sharp.

And it was just as well, too, for the atmosphere at Twickenham was something to behold.

But there were small pockets of Australian fans as well and while half-back Will Genia said he didn't hear Waltzing Matilda, the veteran No.9 still hailed their influence on the Wallabies' 20-point triumph.

Where did it go wrong for England?
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"To be honest they were incredible," Genia said. "To have that much support, to have that many people to turn out and watch us play, it was incredible."

While Giteau's left boot helped steer the Wallabies out of danger on more than one occasion, it was the way he put the icing on the cake via a trademark swan dive which cued massive celebrations from the Australians, right in front of one of the pockets of travelling supporters.

But it almost never came about, with winger Adam Ashley-Cooper revealing he was tempted to try the dummy and brush his great mate.

"I really did enjoy it, you know, it was certainly going through my mind about the dummy and go which has kind of plagued my career," Ashley-Cooper said. "But yeah, I gave it to Gits and he finished it well."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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