Departing Brumbies coach Tony Rea has revealed the public perception that Matt Giteau is 'grumpy' and 'hard to get on with' is right on the money – but he says that's what makes the volatile playmaker so good.
Rea singled out Giteau for special praise following Saturday's embarrassing 41-7 loss to the Waratahs and commended the 28-year-old's leadership throughout a tumultuous season for the Canberra club.
"I know Australian rugby's got this impression that he's a grumpy fella that's hard to get on with," the straight-shooting Rea said.
"Well I've coached him now for 14 weeks, and he is that, but in all the right ways."
"He tests you, he challenges you, he pushes you and all that and he's difficult at times because he wants to win and he keeps trying to compete."
"And if the public don't like the look of that stuff then they're reading him wrong."
Giteau, who will link up with French glamour club Toulon after this year's World Cup, insists he's not bothered by his lack of popularity in some sections of the rugby community.
"I am who I am and as long as I've got the respect of my team-mates and my family and obviously my wife and friends, that's all I really care about," Giteau said.
"Obviously people you don't know are going to judge you rightly or wrongly and there's nothing you can do about it."
"If I worry about that sort of stuff I'll end up not enjoying myself and not playing rugby because I want to play rugby and not doing the things that give me that enjoyment out of rugby."
While his sixth and final campaign with the Brumbies yielded just four wins and saw head coach Andy Friend sacked in early March, Giteau said he is proud of his efforts this season.
"It's not obviously the way you want to end it but for me this year I feel I've got no regrets," Giteau said.
"I gave everything I could for the Brumbies this year and I've personally been reasonably proud with how I've played."
"In terms of my actual career I'm not too sure where this year stands but for me it was a real test of my character throughout the year because it had been such a disappointing year as far as the team is concerned."
"It's been a tough one for me but one that I've enjoyed."
Meanwhile, Giteau would not rule out a return to Super Rugby when his contract with Toulon expires in early 2013.
"If I feel that I've got something to offer at the end of my contract and I still feel that I can add value to the organisation, or even to the Super Rugby competition, then I'd love to come back," he said.