Top 14: Giteau tempted by huge Bayonne offer;
Carter ready for Perpignan adventure
01 December
2008
 In
demand Wallaby fly-half Matt Giteau has admitted he is
considering a huge offer to play for Top 14 side Bayonne.
Despite club denials at the weekend Giteau
has confirmed that Bayonne owner Alain Afflelou made him a
staggering financial offer when the pair met in Paris last
week.
According to reports in Australia the Wallaby
No 10 admitted he was tempted by a deal that would be worth
nearly $10m (Aus) spread over four years.
“I think whenever anyone’s presented with
that type of offer you’d sit down and consider your
options,” he said.
“Because we’ve been playing Tests I haven’t
really thought about it seriously. I think over the next
week, two weeks, I’ll sit down and seriously think about
it,” he added.
But Giteau faces opposition from the
Australian Rugby Union (ARU) who have him on contract until
the next World Cup in 2011. An ARU spokesman further
confirmed they would not countenance a “sabbatical” deal
similar to the one that has allowed All Black fly half Dan
Carter to join fellow Top 14 side Perpignan.
“That makes it tougher,” admitted Giteau.
And now Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has
chipped in as the green and golds rally round their star man
in an effort to persuade him to stay.
“He’s got more to do yet,” Deans told AAP.
“He’ll make his own choices, as everyone
does. Obviously we’d be hopeful that he’d stick around, but
that’s his call. Obviously if he seeks counsel I would help
him with his decision making but, at the end of the day,
it’s his decision because he’s the bloke who has to live
with it,” said Deans.
But, having made his plea (sort of) for
Giteau to stay Deans also made it clear that the fly-half
was not irreplaceable, with the likes of Berrick Barnes and
Quade Cooper waiting on the sidelines
So, Giteau now faces the prospect of making a
choice between earning enough cash to set him up for life,
or to continue representing his country.
Although he said “you can’t really put a
price on a Wallaby jumper”, it appears that is exactly the
equation that the 26-year-old must now weigh up.
It is a dilemma that is set to become
increasingly problematic for the Australian and New Zealand
rugby unions as big-money French clubs come knocking.
Australia’s NRL has already lost star names
such as Sonny ‘Bill’ Williams (to Toulon), Mark Gasnier (to
Stade Francais) and Craig Gower (to Bayonne). Now it appears
French scouts are turning their attention to the union
clubs, with bucket loads of Euros being waved in an effort
to tempt more signings.
The All Blacks have so far overcome a
post-World Cup player exodus to Europe but it remains
unclear how long they can maintain their current strength if
the pattern continues.
Australia will be similarly vulnerable, with
players able to triple or quadruple their salary overnight
by flying the coop.
One Wallaby definitely on his way to France
is Brumbies lock Alistair Campbell, who will be
joining up with Montpellier on January 1.
The 28-year-old, who has three international
caps, has been signed as cover for the new year when the
likes of Georgian Mamuka Gorgodze and Portugal’s Goncalo Uva
will be away playing in the Six Nations B tournament.
Meanwhile, Carter will join up with
Perpignan this week after masterminding the All Blacks’
32-6 win against England, to complete their Home Nations
Grand Slam.
The Kiwi fly-half missed five kicks but still
managed a match haul of 17 points, as well as setting up
Mils Muliaina’s second try.
His focus now turns to France and what lays
install for him at the Catalan giants Perpignan.
“It’s going to be tough finishing a big
season and starting another one but I just think the change
in lifestyle and being in a new environment is going to be
good for me,” he said after the Twickenham win.
“I’m confident I’ll be able to get through it
well. I want to give 100 per cent for them and when I arrive
in Perpignan I’ll really set some goals. Obviously I have
high standards and I have to live up to very high
expectations,” he added.
Carter will be available to play for his new
club when they travel to Leicester for Friday’s Heineken Cup
clash, but it is more likely he will make his debut at home
in the return leg the following weekend.
Toulon,
meanwhile, appear to be in a battle to secure the services
of former Springbok coach Jake White for next season.
White joins up with Tana Umaga’s Top 14
strugglers this week to begin a three-week consultancy role,
giving president Mourad Boudjellal an overview of where the
club is going wrong and how it can improve.
“I want to find out what is not working and
that is why I have looked outside the club for an opinion,”
said Boudjellal.
He insisted this does not put Umaga’s head
coach role at stake, but that is contrary to reports that
emerged from South Africa at the weekend.
According to SA’s Sunday Times White is now
being courted by the French club for a more substantial
contract, despite English Premiership club Saracens – where
White has just spent a week with coach Eddie Jones – also
keen to have him back in 2009.
White’s agent Craig Livingstone confirmed he
is set to meet Boudjellal for further discussions, and even
Jones said he was aware of the interest.
“I know Toulon have been calling him, so I’ll
be interested to see if he goes there,” said Sarries’
Australian coach.
White, meanwhile, is joining forces again
with Jones this week as the pair coach the Barbarians side
due to play Australia at Twickenham on Wednesday.
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