The Start of the Mercurial Matt Giteau's Wallaby Journey

On 16 November 2002, Australia contended with the mammoth task of squaring up to England at Twickenham.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, a diminutive figure clad in gold scrum-cap and Wallaby jersey flitted nervously on the touchline.

Australian coach Eddie Jones was about to administer a baptism of fire onto the 20 year old Matthew James Giteau, sending him onto the pitch, with the scores at 32-31 in favour of the English, to take command of the fly-half channel.

Standing 1.78m tall and weighing just over 80kg, the English loose-forwards would have licked their lips at the sight of the youngster trotting onto the pitch.

Giteau’s nerves were, understandably, slightly evident from the start - his first touch seeing him hoist a somewhat aimless up-&-under, followed shortly thereafter by a wayward pass into the centre channels.

However, once the anxiety ebbed away, Giteau began to exhibit flashes of the skill and competence for which he is known today - linking up beautifully between forwards and backs and lending support where he could in the tighter exchanges.

He went on to win 102 more caps for his country in a revered and decorated 15-year career.