European Rugby Champions Cup
Matt Giteau flags Drew Mitchell for Wallabies recall
ESPN Staff
May 3, 2015
Matt Giteau
Matt Giteau© Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Matt Giteau has put his name back in the Wallabies mix after he helped inspire Toulon to their third straight European Rugby Champions Cup triumph.

Giteau was instrumental in Toulon's 24-18 win over Clermont on Saturday, when he was one of two Wallabies who excelled at Twickenham with Drew Mitchell scoring a remarkable try. And they may yet be back at HQ later in the season when Australia travel for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

When Giteau and Mitchell first joined Toulon, it was a decision that ended their Wallabies' prospects as the ARU's former policy was to not pick those players based overseas. However a recent change to that has opened the door for Giteau to make a remarkable comeback to the Wallabies fold having last played for them in 2011.

"I signed over here knowing I wouldn't play Test rugby again," Giteau told AFP. "Now the rules have changed, it's a possibility. I had no idea it was coming, but I'm happy it has. It's very exciting for Australian rugby that they've changed that [the eligibility rules]. For me in particular, it doesn't change a great deal until I'm contacted. Given the opportunity, it would be great to play Test match rugby again. But I haven't played it in a long time."

Giteau was also full of praise for match-winner Mitchell whose solo effort helped them to their six-point triumph. "I'm a bit biased, because he's my best mate, but to see him do something so special was amazing," said Giteau. "Obviously, he feels pretty good about it and he's got his new mouth guard, his gold mouth guard, out there as well so he's quite happy about that.

"It's not for me to say if he should be selected or not, but I would think he's in the top 30 players in Australia. That would be my opinion. But we're not selectors, we just go out there, play the best we can and then see what happens."

© ESPN Staff

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