Matt Giteau needs a break. He needs a break from rugby, a break from the fickle and the often ''stupid'' criticisms of his team and himself this year.
On Wednesday he and his fiance Bianca Franklin flew out from Perth for a holiday in Dubai.
The destination, it seems, was not so important. The chance to escape was.
Asked what he was looking forward to during his stay in the Middle Eastern oasis, Giteau's reply was succinct: ''Getting away from rugby.''
To say it's been one of those years for Giteau wouldn't be quite accurate. It has been without doubt the worst year of his professional career.
Of course these things are relative.
He is one of the world's leading players and his bad year included picking up the John Eales Medal for best Australian player of the year as well as being nominated for the IRB's best international player.
However these honours were as bemusing to Giteau as they were to those who criticised him during the season.
He joked wryly on receiving the best Wallaby award that to win more accolades, ''I think I've got to continue playing badly''.
From a team point of view, this Test season ranked with the worst in recent history. There was last place in the Tri Nations and a 0-4 season against the All Blacks.
Then there was the shattered dream of a grand slam in Europe, a tour which included a 9-8 loss to lowly Scotland.
While he has had some personal joys his engagement to Franklin, the recent birth of a nephew off the field it's also been an often unpleasant ride.
The year began with intense speculation about his provincial future, speculation fed by the horrible mess that was his third-party sponsorship with Western Force sponsor Firepower.
The fact the news broke that he had signed with the ACT the weekend before the Force and Brumbies clash made life particularly stressful.
Soon after the Test season began, his good friend Lote Tuqiri was sacked by the ARU, an event some felt contributed to Giteau's inconsistent on-field performances.
Then there was the Wallabies leadership issue and the reports he had fallen out with coach Robbie Deans over the decision to make Berrick Barnes vice captain instead of him.
Once the bright, boyish star who could do no wrong, the now senior Wallaby has in 2009 been portrayed variously as overpaid, disgruntled, bigger than the team, even a sook.
It's long been Giteau's way to ignore criticisms or laugh them off with his trademark wit.
But at the end of a long and difficult year, the 27-year-old admits they've rankled him.
''It was a tough year ... [public pressure] always makes it tough, but for me football has always been a great release. When there's things going on, whether they're talking about your future or your form, you can just get out there and play football,'' Giteau said.
Of course that release is only for 80 minutes a week. Hence, Giteau's admission that some of the media criticism this year has got under his skin.
An example was his pillorying after his shocker against Scotland, where he missed a relatively easy shot at goal that would have won the match on full-time.
In the days after the astounding defeat, there were calls for Giteau to be axed from the team, an idea unimaginable for most of his highly-commendable Test career which began in late 2002.
Yet seven days after the Scotland mess he was being lauded for his wonder game against Wales, where he led arguably the most complete Australian performance under Deans.
''One week they're calling for your head, the next week 'he's the greatest player we've got, blah, blah, blah'. The media is a fickle thing. You play well one week and you're on track for the World Cup. The next week you have a bad game and they say this team is a disaster,'' he said.
''They're paid to make comments like that, but as a playing group, I wouldn't say we don't respect them, but we certainly don't pay any attention to them.''
Giteau is just as hot of feeling about the way he was portrayed after Deans decided not to give him a leadership role. Papers, The Canberra Times included, published a photo of Giteau leaning on a pole, arms crossed, looking unhappy as Deans stood nearby with his head bowed. It seemed evidence of a seriously disgruntled player, one whom it was even speculated might soon take his bat and ball and clear off overseas. Giteau denies this.
''As far as the leadership thing went, I'd spoken to Robbie when he made the decision, he told me his reasons and I respect that,'' Giteau said.
''That day there might have been five or six other photos where we're making a joke with each other, but those photos didn't get used. You can get a photo for any story if you want one.''
As for the theory that Giteau's form had been affected by close friend Tuqiri's sacking?
''I'm mates with him and you don't want to see your mates go through anything like that. But as far as affecting form? No, when I go out on the field, I'm not thinking about Lote, I'm thinking about what I need to do and what the side needs to do to win,'' he said.
''Whether it's driven by someone else to make it look like I'm unhappy or not really enjoying my football, that's stupid.''
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
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