Drew Mitchell: Heineken Cup near Test rugby standard
Wallabies prodigal son Drew Mitchell believes both he and Toulon teammate Matt Giteau are ready to play Test rugby this year, despite playing overseas in recent seasons.
The pair arrived in Australia at 5am this morning before being officially named in Michael Cheika’s initial 40-man training squad for the Rugby Championships today.
After starring in the Heineken Cup final at Twickenham earlier this year, Mitchell said both he and Giteau were ready to return to the gold jersey.
“I don’t think the speed is too far off international football,” he told media in Sydney today.
“I think personally and from experience, the Heineken Cup and the higher quality games of Top 14 are probably closer to Test match rugby than Super Rugby.”
Mitchell said he had resigned to the fact that his Test career was over when he signed with Toulon, but was thrilled with the ARU’s decision to alter their player contracting policy ahead of this year’s World Cup.
Having played the Heineken Cu