Former Wallaby Matt Giteau admits he was bitter when he was unceremoniously dumped from the Australian team in 2011, but says moving his career to France has put rugby in its "rightful place".
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Giteau also believes his reaction to a missed kick in a Test match was the trigger for his relationship with then Wallabies coach Robbie Deans starting to unravel.
Giteau is back in Canberra recovering from groin surgery, aiming to return to French club Toulon by the end of the month to join the charge to the European Cup and Top 14 titles.
In an interview with Rugby HQ on Fox Sports on Thursday night, Giteau said he was jaded when Deans left him out of the World Cup squad four years ago, stranding him on 92 games for Australia.
But the former ACT Brumbies captain said he had "no right to feel that way" and that family and a fresh start in the south of France had given him fresh perspective.
"At the time I was very bitter," Giteau said.
"But in my head I hadn't experienced enough. I didn't have enough life experience, I placed too much importance on rugby.
"Now I've got a couple of kids and rugby is in its rightful place [in my life]. While I felt bitter at the time, I had no right to feel that way.
"I played 92 Tests, I was very fortunate to have played that many times for the Wallabies and represent my country. I'm certainly not bitter now, I felt bitter but I had no right to."
Giteau's two former Super Rugby clubs - the Brumbies and the Western Force - will battle in an Australian derby in Canberra on Friday night.
Giteau is working with former Brumbies physiotherapist Tim McGrath in the capital to recover from the nagging groin problem that has plagued his season.
Giteau has found a new edge to his game since moving abroad, claiming the honour of Europe's top player at the end of last year and helping Toulon win multiple titles.
But his exit was tainted by Deans' decision to overlook his experience in a 32-man World Cup squad.
He missed a shot from in front in a Test against England in 2010, which Giteau looks back on as one of the most embarrassing moments of his career.
"I fell in a bit of a hole [in 2010] with the goalkicking and after I missed that one from in front, which was probably the most embarrassing thing in my career, I had a little smile," Giteau said.
"It was more of a nervous or embarrassed reaction from me and I think that was received pretty poorly, from there things unravelled [with Deans]."
The 32-year-old admits he is nearing the end of his career 14 years after he burst into the Brumbies and established himself as a star Wallabies playmaker.
He told The Canberra Times last week that his three-year contract extension worth $1.5 million per season with Toulon would likely be the last deal of his career, and all but ruled out any thoughts of a Super Rugby comeback.
"For me, that time has certainly passed [at the Brumbies and in Super Rugby]," Giteau told Rugby HQ.
"I had a great 10 or 11 years of playing Super Rugby, I loved it. But now I enjoy watching it. I don't feel envious that I want to get out there and play."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND FOUR
Friday: ACT Brumbies v Western Force at Canberra Stadium, 7.40pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2. Tickets available at Ticketek.
* The full interview with Matt Giteau will be aired on Rugby HQ on Fox Sports 2 at 8.30pm on Thursday night.
