Giteau set for club return
Wallaby inside back geared for Tri-Nations return
Australia's star inside centre Matt Giteau will not be facing Ireland in Perth on Saturday, despite making good progress on the road to full recovery from minor knee surgery.
In fact, the midfield maestro is scheduled for a return to action in club rugby at the weekend and will make his comeback to Test rugby in the Tri-Nations only.
Giteau has been sidelined since undergoing surgery at the end of the Super 14 season in mid-May and has been a frustrated sideline spectator with Mat Rogers playing in the No.12 jersey.
Wallaby coach John Connolly, speaking to the media after the Wallabies' 43-18 thumping of England in Melbourne on Saturday (which concluded a 2-0 series whitewash), said Giteau was not quite ready for a Test return – yet.
Giteau, however, will start running again on Monday and will join the team in full contact training on Wednesday of next week.
"He will probably play half a game of club rugby on Saturday week and then be available for New Zealand [in the opening match of the Tri-Nations on July 8]," Connolly said.
Connolly indicated there could be a couple of changes to the team to face Ireland, as selectors try to find the "best fit".
"It is possible, that's no doubt," he added.
