Wallabies Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell said they picked Toulon teammate Jonny Wilkinson’s brain on his experiences at the World Cup on a number of occasions during the trios time together in the south of France, however they never mentioned the 2015 tournament.

During their time together at Toulon, Giteau and Mitchell thought their international careers were over, before a change to the ARU’s player contracting policy made a third World Cup a possibility.

“We know Jonny reasonably well from our time at Toulon,” Mitchell said.

“He’s been open about it, about how it was one of the best things, but also one of the most difficult things he has gone through with the fame and attention. We have been able to speak to him about the good and bad side.

“He is held in high regard in England and round the world, so for us to play alongside him and pick his brain about how he goes about his game has been a benefit for us personally.”

So did he pass on information about England’s methods?

“Yeah, he’s told us everything about the English psyche,” Mitchell joked.

“No, we haven’t been at Toulon for a number of months so we do talk to him, but it’s certainly not about any of that.”

Having acquired the necessary 60 Test caps and held a contract with Australian Rugby for at least seven years, Giteau and Mitchell’s test career resumed after more than three years when they were recalled to Australia’s initial 40-man squad in July.

Giteau said: “It’s a big issue for us but now it’s been done and we are both very thankful that we’ve been given the opportunity to come back and be involved for our country in such a massive thing as the World Cup,” Giteau said.

“Both of us have been to a few before and likewise we have been to speak to players from our own country, when we got the phone call to say we were in the squad from the players from the 1999 World Cup,” Mitchell said.

One of those players was Nathan Grey, Australia’s assistant coach and member of the 1999 trophy-winning side.

“You want the best to represent the Wallabies,” Grey said of the pair’s recall. “It’s exciting for those guys to come back and it’s great for everyone.”

After allowing Mitchell to answer the lion’s share of questions during the press conference, Giteau was full of support for his teammate as they left the stage.

“Well done Drew, you were great.”