Tah’s old firm key to All Blacks battle
POP Quiz: how many times have Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau and Bernard Foley started together for the Wallabies?
If your answer is zero, well done. Your prize – the Wallabies hope – will be watching the star trio conjuring an upset win over the All Blacks on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium.
Remarkably, Foley, Beale and Folau will be named in the Wallabies’ starting team today for the first time despite being Test mainstays for most of their careers.
The Nos.10-12-15 combination is arguably Australia’s most attacking unit, and their strikepower was critical in taking the Waratahs to a Super Rugby title at ANZ Stadium in 2014.
But Beale’s versatility has seen him shift around at Test level and of 17 Tests in the same 23 as Folau and Foley, he came off the bench 15 times.
Indeed, despite the fact Beale’s return from England is being hailed as a potential game breaker for the Wallabies, the 28-year-old will wear the Wallabies No.12 jersey for the first time on Saturday night.
“That was a big part of the decision to come back (from England), to be around world class players like Izzy and Bernard,” Beale said.
“I obviously have a lot of history around those blokes and that allows me to be more excited, I guess.”
It may allow a ripple of excitement for Wallabies fans too, with 2017’s woes likely to yield a record-low Bledisloe crowd at ANZ Stadium, any ripple is welcome.
Fox Sports Stats show the Foley-Beale-Folau connection on the same field brings above average win rates.
Their win percentage for NSW since 2013 was 77 per cent, as opposed to 65 per cent in general.
And in Wallabies colours, they’ve won 64 per cent of Tests together versus 57 per cent in general.
Unlocking Folau’s attacking power, via Foley and Beale’s creativity, is central to that success.
Foley laid on four of Folau’s six tries in June, and stats show Beale created a full one-quarter of Folau’s tries when the pair played together at the Waratahs.
“Guys like KB, don’t come around too often,” Folau said.
“You want to try and make the most of playing alongside him. He is a special player.
“Everyone knows that. You give him the ball and he’s always going to create something out of nothing.
“I feel like we have a really great combination and it’s always exciting playing alongside KB. You just grow that extra leg, I feel.”
When playing with Folau, Beale’s view is simple: always look for the big No.15.
“You’re stupid if you’re not (looking),” Beale said.
“This year he has been incredible and in the June series he’s been on fire. For me I don’t look to overdo it.
“We have a good understanding of what we want from each other.”
THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE DECISION TO COME BACK (FROM ENGLAND), TO BE AROUND WORLD CLASS PLAYERS LIKE IZZY AND BERNARD. KURTLEY BEALE