It is a Friday, May 1, the day before he and Toulon play their European Cup final against Clermont. Toulon have arrived for their last training session - the traditional Captain's Run - before the game.

Giteau, 32, is surprised to learn this side that is chasing a record third European title have been assigned the home locker room.

It is a first for Giteau who debuted for the Wallabies there in 2002 against England, and has played there several times since - but on every other occasion, taking to the field from the visitor's room.

Never had Giteau imagined that he, a Wallaby with 92 Test caps, would one day find himself settling in to the confines of the England rugby team as if it was his home ground.

Never had Giteau imagined what he would see inside either: from memorabilia championing English rugby's rich history to the inscription of names of past players in cubicles assigned to their position.

In the cubicle for the No. 12s, Giteau sees the names Will Carling, Jeremy Guscott … And yes, in the cubicle for 10s there is the legendary name of Jonny Wilkinson, his former Toulon teammate.

Giteau turns to his Toulon teammate, English Test back rower Steffon Armitage and cheekily quips: "There is not one place where I want to sit. You just have all these English players everywhere …"

Giteau instead settles into an unassigned cubicle in front of a television that provides ample distraction from the history around him as he prepares for Toulon's last run.

The issue is soon distanced from his mind, as it is upon his return on game day by the sight of red and black Toulon jerseys hanging like a flag in each player's cubicle.

This time, Giteau walks straight up to the Toulon No. 10 strip that is his to wear and makes it his own.

For a day at least this is Toulon, thinks Giteau.

Several hours later, he leaves grinning and a spring in his step with his teammates – including Australian winger Drew Mitchell – as European Cup winners.

Two weeks since Toulon's 24-18 victory over Clermont, Giteau realises how rare that experience at Twickenham was – and will likely always be for a non-English player.

The experience is unlikely to ever provide a match winning "one per center."

But if Wallabies coach Michael Cheika picks Giteau for the World Cup in which Australia plays England in a pool game at Twickenham, chances are he will tap into Giteau's insiders intel to try and find something to make a difference, if not Giteau's northern hemisphere big game credentials.

Giteau, who left Australia to join Toulon in late 2011, has long maintained his desire to play for the Wallabies again and add to his 92 caps should the opportunity arise.

The door is now open for Giteau after Australian Rugby Union recently changed its selection policy that now allows overseas based players with 60 Test caps and seven non-consecutive years of play in a professional side in Australia to be considered.

Giteau is still keen to play for Australia, but dismisses talk of the new ARU policy being aimed at securing his serviced as the "Giteau's Law' headlines suggested.

"It is a good thing for Australian rugby," Giteau says. "But who is to say it is for me.

"Michael Cheika is probably looking forward. Many players he rates and has picked consistently are moving overseas next year. It keeps him a strong base.

"I feel the same as I always have. If you are given the opportunity to play for your country it is the biggest honour. I would love to be involved in whatever capacity.

"If it is not starting … If it is providing experience and helping the starting players to get better or perform better I would be happy to fulfil that role as well."

Giteau says he will not dwell on a possible Wallabies recall, but focus on playing for Toulon, starting with their Top 14 away fixture against Clermont on Sunday.

"Until you get selected it is nothing I can worry about. I don't focus on it," he says.

"I can't do anything other than play for Toulon and try to win another competition."

Despite his love of rugby, the game is no longer the "be all and end all" for Giteau.

He says the move to France where he lives in the hills of Carqueiranne overlooking Toulon with his wife Bianca and boys – Levi and Kai - has changed his view on life.

"It is a huge part," Giteau says of rugby's place in his life. "But I have got the balance right now. Before I left Australia, I probably placed too much emphasis on rugby.

"I really enjoy every opportunity I have and am grateful for every opportunity rugby has given me, but having kids makes you realise what's really important in life.

"Having the right balance has also made me enjoy rugby more if that makes sense.

"I played too much emphasis on rugby, on results and how I played. Now you play the best rugby you can, train as hard as you can and prepare the best way you can.

"But when I come home, whether I have played well or poorly, my kids are still the same, my wife is the same … You get a little more perspective on life.

"I spend time with my kids and family. Rugby has found its rightful place for me."

Even better adds Giteau, come this time of the year in France: "The weather is starting to get good here. The pool covers are off. The boys are loving it too. It's good."