RUGBY:VETERAN OUTHALF Matt Giteau has hinted he has been overlooked for Australia's World Cup squad in a message on his Twitter page. The Wallabies are due to name their 30-man squad today, but Giteau broke ranks yesterday to suggest his omission in a cryptic message on the social networking site.

“Thank u ballboys, thank u linesman? That’s it . . .” he wrote.

Australia’s sixth most capped player of all time with 91 Tests, played in the last two versions of rugby’s showpiece event and was nominated for IRB World Player of the Year as recently as 2009.

However, the meteoric rise of Quade Cooper saw Giteau lose the starting outhalf spot, and a poor Super rugby campaign, combined with a disappointing display in Australia’s upset loss to Samoa, has put his place in the squad in jeopardy. Should Giteau be left out of Australia’s squad it could spell the end of his international career with the 28-year-old due to join French side Toulon after the World Cup.

Australia coach Robbie Deans was keeping his cards close to his chest when he returned from South Africa yesterday but was met with a barrage of advice from former players to include Giteau in his 30-man party. “He’s too good a player to leave out of the squad in total,” former outhalf Mark Ella told the Daily Telegraph.

Stephen Larkham pointed out the backline options that Giteau, who has scored 684 Test points, would offer the Wallabies. “Gits can play anywhere, including halfback. He’s very versatile, is a left-foot option and is very experienced,” the 1999 World Cup winner said. “You want someone like that in the squad.”

Giteau’s ability to play scrumhalf would offer Deans the option of taking just Will Genia and Luke Burgess to New Zealand and leave Nick Phipps at home.

Berrick Barnes’s return to World Cup contention as a backline utility after taking a break to recover from a series of concussions also offers Deans cover at outhalf, inside centre and fullback.

Winger Drew Mitchell (broken ankle), prop James Slipper (ankle) and hooker Tafatu Polota-Nau (knees) could be picked without playing a game since being injured. Injury-prone number eight Wycliff Palu, who is recovering from knee surgery, is another player hoping to be picked on reputation.