Rugby: Giteau makes 'no promises' on Aussie test recall

Matt Giteau (with ball) is not sure about being selected for the Wallabies after years in France. Photo / AP

Matt Giteau is offering "no promises" that he's up to representing Australia at a Rugby World Cup for a third time. But he's hoping to find out.

Giteau, his European Cup-winning teammate Drew Mitchell and veteran flanker George Smith are all in the mix for a Wallabies recall following the ARU's decision last month to relax eligibility rules to select overseas-based players with 60 caps and seven years' national service.

While 34-year-old Smith is understood not to be overly interested, Giteau and Mitchell are firmly in coach Michael Cheika's sights after helping Toulon claim an unprecedented third straight European Cup last weekend.

Giteau, though, admits it would be a leap of faith to pick him for a test comeback after almost four years in the international wilderness.

In a contentious call, former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans overlooked the midfield maestro for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand before Giteau took off for France.

"It is different. There is no question it is different. The game over here is a bit slower compared to Super Rugby," Giteau said on Fox Sports' Rugby HQ.

"As far as test rugby, it's really, really hard for me to say. The last time I played was in 2011.

"If I am chosen, if I am selected, I would love to be a part of it [but], I haven't played at that level [for a long time], so I don't know if I am up for it.

"That's probably the biggest question. I would certainly love to test myself and give myself every chance to have a go at it. But there is certainly no promises there."

The 92-test star's candid confession that he harbours even the slightest of doubts will add to calls for Cheika to ask Giteau - and possibly Mitchell - back for the Rugby Championship to assess their international form, rather than gamble on a straight-out inclusion in his 31-man World Cup squad.

"The season's about to be finished in a couple of weeks in France and so they'd be available to do that," former Wallabies captain George Gregan said this week.

Mitchell enhanced his claims for a test return with a slashing solo try to clinch Toulon's European Cup Twickenham triumph over Clermont.

The 63-test winger admitted he and Giteau received a congratulatory text message from Cheika but no promises on test selection.

"[Just about] his involvement in the European Championship and knowing how hard it is to win, let alone a few consecutively," Mitchell said. "Nothing further than that. I am still hoping I can get a bit of a ride on [Giteau's] coat tails."

- AAP