Kerevi hails Beale’s rugby IQ

Sydney: Kurtley Beale’s rugby brain and Xfactor quality have been hailed by fellow Wallaby and potential centre rival Samu Kerevi.

Reds’ star and leader Kerevi started in all of his first eight test appearances last year, but didn’t play alongside Beale who missed the Wallabies 2016 campaign through injury.

Kerevi’s first two tests were against England at inside centre, but he occupied the more familiar No. 13 jersey for six more matches against Rugby Championship foes New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa.

Injuries put him out of last year’s spring tour and the recent June Tests with the Brumbies’ Tevita Kuridrani re-establishing himself as the first-choice outside centre, after he spent the second half of 2016 on the bench behind Kerevi. Back from ankle and pectoral injuries at the tailend of the Super Rugby season, Kerevi is vying for a starting centre position or a bench spot in the squad for the opening Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship game against the All Blacks in Sydney on August 19.

Beale is tipped to replace the injured Karmichael Hunt at inside centre for that game. Kerevi has enjoyed the chance to watch Beale at close quarters in this week’s Wallabies camp in Cessnock, where coach Michael Cheika has tried different centre combinations.

“Kurtley is just an exceptional player with an exceptional rugby brain,” Kerevi said.