Gits mentor back in Wallabies fold - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Gits mentor back in Wallabies fold

By Jim Morton 30/07/2010 05:49:57 PM Comments (0)

Matt Giteau has paid for his goalkicking mentor Ben Perkins to return to the Wallabies camp to ensure he is in the right frame of mind for Saturday night's vital Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand.

Perkins, Australia's former kicking coach under John Connolly and Eddie Jones, has this week been involved in Wallabies training for the first time in four years.

He quit under bitter terms at the end of 2006 after his position was down-graded significantly by the ARU but Giteau has sought his counsel after losing form and confidence last month.

It prompted coach Robbie Deans to take a two-pronged approach into the 22-15 win over Ireland when Quade Cooper shared the goalkicking duties.

Giteau kicked much better in last week's 30-13 win over South Africa, landing five from seven after some private sessions with Perkins.

With Bledisloe Cup encounters in Australia often tight, opposite number Daniel Carter has regularly broken Wallabies hearts by slotting pressure goals.

Carter was uncharacteristically wayward in the All Blacks last start in Wellington but says he's gone back to basics to correct his glitch.

"You just have to go back to what you do well," Carter said.

"Sometimes you can over-complicate these things. Its a matter of going back to basics.

Giteau flew Perkins to Melbourne for Wallabies training runs this week.

Perkins had plenty to say and was never far from Giteau, who has been switched from inside centre to five-eighth with the suspension of Cooper, as he practiced his kicking at the end of Friday's session.

Giteau missed clutch goals against Scotland and England in the past eight months and knows he must kick with the same confidence he shows in the Super 14, where he registered an 83 per cent accuracy this year.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news