Shift to fullback OK with Beale
vaunted home side’s pack.
Tasman weren’t helped by losing bruising flanker Jordan Taufua at halftime, who finally succumbed to what appeared to be a shoulder injury.
But while the youngest provincial union in the country came up short of their first title, departing Canterbury coach Glenn Delaney will leave on a high.
Destined for Dunedin to take over as the Highlanders’ defence coach one-year into a three-year deal, Delaney was desperate for the title after the province coughed up the Ranfurly Shield to Taranaki under his watch earlier this month.
In guiding the red and blacks to the title, it ensures the trophy will join the Super Rugby trophy, won by the Crusaders in August, at their joint headquarters at Rugby Park.
Tasman were all over the hosts in the opening 15 minutes, bouncing out to an early 10-0 lead and threatening to score more.
Their quick-fire play was made possible by a mountain of frontfoot ball, as the Makos’ ballcarriers broke the advantage line and unleashed a barrage of offloads.
Monster centre Levi Aumua crashed over out wide in the eighth minute.
Makalio busted Canterbury midfielder Rob Thompson’s tackle, before firing a pass to Blackadder, who in turn fed Aumua.
Tasman halfback Finlay Christie won’t want to see a replay of Mo’unga’s first try, after he missed a one-on-one tackle.
Reserve Canterbury halfback Jack Stratton iced his side’s emphatic win when he dived over to score with just five minutes to play. HE’S ticking all the boxes at second five-eighth but Kurtley Beale would be happy to help the Wallabies out in his old position of fullback.
Beale’s excellent form since returning to the side for the Rugby Championship has been been a key factor in Australia’s recent improvement, including a drought-breaking Bledisloe test win over the All Blacks.
He slotted in well at secondfive alongside five-eighth Bernard Foley, with them reproducing the successful dual-playmaking combination that helped NSW win the 2014 Super Rugby title.
Beale was Australia’s firstchoice fullback from 2010-12 before Israel Folau switched to the code and also started several tests at five-eighth in 2012-13.
Between 2013 and 2015 however, two-thirds of his caps were earned off the bench, where he became an impact player and utility back, popping up at fullback, five-eighth, second-five and even the wing.
After missing the 2016 test season due to injury and a stint with English club Wasps, Beale returned to Australia and achieved his aim of winning the No 12 jersey.
Folau is sitting out the upcoming spring tour and Karmichael Hunt was given first crack at fullback in yesterday’s match against the Barbarians in Sydney.
Beale would have no issues if Wallabies coach Michael Cheika asked him to play at fullback, the position he occupied in 2010 when he was a nominee for the world player of the year award.
‘‘I’m really enjoying the 12 jersey at the moment but obviously Izzy is not going to be playing in the spring tour so that 15 jersey might come back up again, who knows?’’ Beale said. ‘‘Whatever Cheik needs, I’m happy to fill in and do my part for the team.’’
Beale said he was a little surprised to finish second behind Folau in the John Eales Medal, the Wallabies’ player of the year award, after playing just seven of the 15 matches in the voting period. - AAP