3 Nov 2010

Giteau gives up kicking duties

12:57 pm on 3 November 2010

The Wallabies second-five Matt Giteau has officially given up the goalkicking duties after a recent run of poor form with the boot.

20-year-old winger James O'Connor will replace Giteau as Australia's first-choice kicker after knocking over a wide conversion to down the All Blacks in Hong Kong last Saturday.

Giteau booted just one from four in the 26-24 win over New Zealand, the latest Test in which his kicking has been out-of-sorts.

Giteau also struggled this year in narrow losses to England and New Zealand in Sydney and he's decided to step aside while he continues working on a new technique.

Giteau says he's confident O'Connor will have no trouble handling the pressure, having coolly converted his match-winning try in their drought-breaking win over the All Blacks.

The Wallabies open their European tour against Wales this weekend.