Super 14
Giteau hopeful of fitness boost
Scrum.com
February 8, 2010
Brumbies fly-half Matt Giteau looks on during training at Griffith Oval, Canberra, Australia, January 18, 2010
Matt Giteau is rated as 50-50 to make his Brumbies return against the Force on Friday © Getty Images
Enlarge

Matt Giteau is rated as 50-50 to make his Brumbies return against his former side, Western Force, in Perth on Friday.

The fly-half sustained a torn thigh during training two weeks ago and while he is confident of facing some familiar faces the club's management have been keen to dampen expectations.

Giteau joined the Brumbies, along with Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom, in 2009 and is keen to begin his second Canberra stint with a strong showing, but will not compromise the team if under 100%.

"It's a little frustrating," he said. "Obviously you want to develop combinations and train as much as possible so from that side of things it's disappointing and frustrating but things are starting to progress well.

"I'm doing a lot of the running and I'm getting a lot of confidence out of that. "I've never torn anything before so it's hard for me to really comment. Every time I go out and I do the running and I push the leg more and more I get through everything and I feel fine. At the moment I'm pretty confident I'll play but having said that I've never torn it so I don't really know the limitations.

"I don't want to compromise the group, so for me it's all about being able to play to my full potential. If at any stage I feel like I'm going to compromise this group there's no way that I'll go out there and play, because obviously I want what's best for the side and what's best for the side is to have 15 or 22 fit guys out there playing."

Giteau missed both of the Brumbies' trial defeats, to the Waratahs and Hurricanes, and coach Andy Friend confirmed that they will allow the playmaker another day to prove his fitness. If fit Giteau will likely fill the No.10 jersey, with Christian Lealiifano deployed as a second playmaker in the centre.

"We're going to give it one more day. Gits is still attempting to be fit and get ready so as a team we just feel if we can give him every opportunity it would be best for us so we're going to do that," Friend said. "He's honestly still a 50-50 (chance of playing).

"We'll probably look to play him at 10 to be honest with you and look to keep Christian there at 12."

© Scrum.com

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.