"I'd lost my voice from all the partying and I wasn't making much sense," he said. "Then Eddie said, 'You'd better straighten yourself up' and I realised it was him. I was like 'Yes, sir'." ~ About the call when Jones told him he was a Wallaby, Giteau was still celebrating a grand final win with the Vikings and thought it was a teammate was playing a prank.

"If you'd asked me this time last year that I would be capped by the Wallabies and sign full-time with the Brumbies in the space of 12 months, I'd have laughed in your face. Last season I was watching the games with my mates and enjoying a beer with the fans. This year I’m going to be playing." ~ Matt talking about first being signed by the Brumbies.

"You're with your friends doing something that we all enjoy every day. The football is challenging and you play in front of big crowds. You travel, meet interesting people and go to places that you just otherwise wouldn't see. It's a blessing. I try hard not to take it for granted. I appreciate the opportunity and I work hard to play good rugby. You've got to be consistentant that's what I am trying to achieve." ~ Matt trying not to get to caught up about how lucky he is, just before the Super 12 2004 season.

"I worked out early that you had a lot more fun as a winner than a loser, and to win you had to compete. You had to want it more than the other blokes." ~  Matt on the effect of hanging around his father during his time playing for the Canberra Raiders.

"I thought he looked just like a twig flying through the air." ~ On Stephen Larkham's flying try against the Auckland Blues, S12 2004.

"I've already come up with my own novel game plan - I'm going to spend all night running straight into 120kg-plus props. Hopefully I'll still be alive to tell you about it next week."  ~ In his column for The Canberra Times (early 2004) about playing the Cats in Super 12.

"We lived a couple of houses away from each other. We grew up playing footy together. No, mate, how could you dream about this as a kid? It's too big."  ~ About being in the same Wallaby team as childhood friend Matt Henjak.

"I played rugby but I didn't enjoy it. For the first couple of years at school it was all a little bit strange and I thought, 'this is ridiculous'. The scrums were strange in that you're standing up with the No.8, whereas in league you've got to be a couple of metres back. That threw me off, as did being able to kick out of your own 22 on the full and not being able to kick out on the full elsewhere. There were just these little things I didn't like about union. However, I gradually started to get it and eventually enjoyed it." ~ Matt on his dislike of rugby at first (Aren't we all glad he changed his mind).

"I think I fit into the team environment well but at the same time it's good to be an individual. It would be pretty dull if everyone was the same. It's a good mix. Everyone gets along well. I think we bring out the best in each other." ~ Giteau on the Wallabies team’s personalities.

" Ben Perkins (Wallabies kicking coach) gave me the name Kid Dynamite and it stuck. It is good. It's a lot to live up to, but it's a bit of fun." ~ Giteau answers cheerfully to the nickname Kid Dynamite.

“I can't remember a real lot of Dad's playing days. He's told me a lot about what it was like and how famous and how great he was (laughs). I just let him live it. I'm sure that he stretches the truth a bit, though.” ~ Matt talking about his father, Ron Giteau who scored 1278 points for the Raiders, Roosters and Magpies in league. 

“It was time for a new haircut and before I knew it, three hours of my day off had been spent in the chair. Unlike last year though you won’t be seeing any outrageous hair colouring from me. I’ve decided to tone it down this season as a sign of my increasing maturity.” ~ Matt’s column on the March 5^th 2004 

"I rate him very highly and I built up a bit of a friendship with him last season," Carter said. "He's a classy player as he showed last year... He's very skilful, fast and pretty hard to pull down. We'll have to keep an eye on him and shut him down as soon as possible. Maybe, I'll send the odd text message this week to give him a bit of stick... I'll try and wind him up a bit but he's a fairly relaxed sort of character." ~ All Blacks & Crusaders centre Dan Carter in the week before before his team’s loss to the Brumbies in the Super 12 2004 final.

"I think he's shown the last couple of years his ability playing a limited time at 10 when Stephen Larkham's been injured, and what he's done at 12 for us has been outstanding. He's got great footwork, a really good passing game and in space he's extremely dangerous. Whether that gets taken away a bit when you play 9, you don't have as much space and those opportunities that you get two passes wide of the ruck, but there's no doubting his ability to adapt. He's got a lot of talent. He communicates very well. He directs his fellow back-line players but also he directs the forwards around the paddock very well." ~ Wallabies Captain Gregan on Giteau’s obvious talent.

"I've said all along I doubted he had longevity at inside centre," Jones admitted. "But I'm happy if he proves me wrong. He played very well. His defence was just outstanding. One performance doesn't seal his future there. But certainly he handled England's big centres. They picked their two biggest centres to play against us and obviously were targeting Larkham and "Gits" in terms of their defensive abilities." ~ Wallabies coach after Giteau’s performance against England in the World Cup Final replay.

Jones: " They won't be rooming together; we'll be keeping them at opposite ends of the building." Henjak:" Hopefully I'm not rooming with him (Matt Giteau). He gets annoying. I'll try to steer clear as much as I can." ~ After Matt Henjak's call up to the Wallaby squad.

" But Matty Giteau's a number 12 who's been on fire so they won't have any trouble replacing me." ~ Elton Flately after his wrist injury.

"Matt Giteau had another masterful game at No. 12 against the Pacific Islanders" ~ Sydney Morning Herald Rugby correspondent Greg Growden after another great performance by Giteau this time against the Pacific Islanders.

"He might as well start when the pressure is on. His whole Test career to date has provided a shinning example of how he responds to pressure. the bigger the challenge the better he goes. He's hitting the ball well and he is a confident little fellow." ~ Coach Eddie Jones on handing Matt the goal-kicking duties in the Bledisloe Cup.

"He's got the fancy hair-do similar to Michael Clarke, he does a lot of things similar to Michael Clarke and he likes to think he plays as well as him too. We'll have to wait and see how the kid performs under pressure on February 1." ~ Mortlock said of Giteau before the celebrity cricket match vs the Canberra Raiders Rugby League team.

“I don't give a rat's that he's not playing league. I'm proud as punch, whatever sport they get the opportunity in. Union showed Matt the way and gave him the opportunity to get to all the places he's been in the last 12 months -- it's fantastic. I'm out there watching the games and enjoying it, and seeing the success coming his way with the Brumbies. Mate, he's old enough to make a decision and I think he's made the right one.

He's got brothers who are still playing league, so there's still a bit of shit flying around the house, but it's positive more than anything. He's handling it pretty good. He's always been a pretty sensible sort of kid -- except for the hairstyle (laughs).” ~ Ron Giteau.