Aussie Giteau a doubt with fever
Matt Giteau, Australia’s inside-centre, was a late doubt for today’s Test against Scotland in Sydney after coming down overnight with a fever.
The 21-year-old will be monitored through the day with Australia coach Eddie Jones to leave it as long as possible before making a final decision on his fitness.
“Matt has had a disrupted night’s sleep, with a bit of a fever and he will try to shake it off today,” said Jones.
“We will have another look at him later this afternoon and then make a final decision from there.”
Should Giteau fail to recover in time from the “flu-like illness”, NSW Waratahs centre Morgan Turinui would be his most likely replacement at inside centre and would make his first Test start in a year.
With Giteau also in the squad as cover for scrum-half, Matt Henjak, George Gregan’s back-up at the ACT Brumbies, would then be promoted into the Wallabies squad for the first time.
Henjak had been set to play with the Canberra Vikings against Randwick in today’s Tooheys New Cup opener but was withdrawn from the game and placed on standby.
The Test match kicks off at 11am Irish time at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium, where Australia return for the first time since losing the World Cup final to England last November.
