Matt Giteau's starting position with the Wallabies is in question for the first time in his brilliant career as Robbie Deans toys with the idea of deploying an-all Queensland midfield trio against the Springboks.

Giteau, a backline mainstay since 2004, won the John Eales Medal last year before being one of Australia's outstanding performers on the ill-fated grand slam tour of the British Isles.

A victim of his own versatility and class, Giteau is often unfairly made the scapegoat for Wallabies defeats.

Giteau has again come under fire during Australia's up-and-down start to the 2010 Test season.

Despite scoring all of Australia's 20 points, including two tries, he bore the brunt for the shock loss to England in Sydney because he missed a routine late penalty goal attempt that would have won the Wallabies the match.

Yet, with a strike rate above 80 per cent over the past season and a half, Giteau remains among the world's most reliable goalkickers.

But with first-choice five-eighth Quade Cooper returning from suspension and Anthony Faingaa emerging as a viable inside centre option, Deans admits Giteau is no longer deemed an automatic starter for the Wallabies.

"Clearly we've got choice now, which is great and the group understands that now," Deans said on Sunday.

"They're all helping each other, all working hard now to ensure that we have a squad that regardless of who is called on, we'll be good to go. That's what the game's about."

Giteau's team-mates were full of admiration for the 84-Test veteran for fronting up two days after the death of his grandfather to direct the Australian attack in Saturday night's 20-10 loss to New Zealand in Christchurch.

"It was a big effort from him," Adam Ashley-Cooper said.

"It was certainly a true test of character and he showed a lot of courage."

And while not concerned with his form, for Deans the issue is deciding what game style he wants to implement in Australia's next Tri Nations Test - now all but a dead rubber - in three weeks against South Africa in Pretoria.

Certain to recall Cooper, Deans is still favouring using Giteau outside him, especially because Cooper's long passing to the wide-running Giteau was so effective in the Wallabies' comprehensive 30-13 defeat of the Springboks two weeks ago in Brisbane.

But Deans is also considering persisting with the more direct Faingaa after his "fantastic" starting debut opposing destructive All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu.

Faingaa, Cooper and halfback Will Genia formed one of the most potent 12-10-9 combinations in the Super 14 this season with the Reds and Deans must decide whether they can be equally dangerous at international level.

Ashley-Cooper, who partnered Faingaa in the centres on Saturday night, has no doubt the two could prove a deadly duo given further time together.

"For a new combination up against the best in the world, I thought we did really well and worked well together," Ashley-Cooper said.

"So it's pretty exciting to see how that combination can grow over the next couple of years.

"He's got huge potential and I'm pretty sure Deansy was pretty happy with how he went.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP