Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has confirmed he met Matt Giteau when the 92-Test centre was in Australia last month.
Giteau has become the focal point of a landmark policy shift that allows current and future Wallabies coaches to select overseas-based Australian players who have played 60 or more Tests and played at least seven seasons in Australia over an unlimited period of time.
He is not the only player now eligible for Test selection this year — former Wallabies Drew Mitchell (63 Tests) and George Smith (111 Tests) are also available — but Giteau is the only player Cheika has been in contact with.
The pair met when the Wallabies were in Europe in November last year and again in Australia when Giteau arrived home for a visit in late February.
Cheika said their initial discussions had not canvassed a potential policy change within the Australian Rugby Union, although the plan was the subject of high level talks around the time of Giteau's most recent visit.
"At that time, back before, there was no talk of this type of thing at all. It was a discussion that's been had over several months with a fair bit of planning," Cheika said.
"Talking to players about that idea wouldn't have been a smart thing to do because it only gives false hope to some and false despair to others. [We have] waited til the decision is made and we can talk to players from there."
Cheika said he had not been in contact with either Smith or Mitchell, but would make contact in coming weeks.
"That's the idea, to have more players to choose from," he said. "Once I find their phone numbers I'm sure I'll get in contact with them."
It is understood Cheika is interested in the versatile playmaker as a utility option in a World Cup squad of 31 players and is looking at the idea of naming him instead of a third specialist halfback as he can cover No.9, five-eighth and inside centre.
Cheika said on Friday he sees Giteau playing in the mid-field.
"There's so many combinations in a World Cup squad, whether you go 17 forwards, 18 forwards, 16 forwards," he said.
"Thirty-one is a tricky number and that's probably why they make it that way, so you make interesting selections.
"Once I sit down with the other coaches ... we're going to have a proper, really clear selection process based off a lot of hard evidence of what we're seeing in Super Rugby and we'll have to have a look at these guys [Giteau, Mitchell and Smith] and what they're doing over there.
"As far as I know Matt Giteau has played no No.9 there, maybe on the odd occasion, so his strength is at No.10 and No.12 there obviously."
