Beale gets nod to ‘have crack’ at All Blacks
A year after shielding Quade Cooper from the stresses of starting against the All Blacks, Ewen McKenzie has revised his safety-first approach at first fiveeighth by entrusting another enigmatic playmaker with the Wallabies’ pivotal role in Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener in Sydney.
Kurtley Beale’s inclusion ahead of Waratahs’ team-mate Bernard Foley provided the unexpected element of an otherwise predictable team announcement yesterday, a lineup that faces the onerous task of preventing the world champions notching a historymaking 18th consecutive test win at ANZ Stadium.
Beale’s selection at No 10 for the first time since he played seven consecutive tests in that position during 2012, signals a dramatic shift in mindset for McKenzie as he hopes to celebrate his first year as head coach by loosening New Zealand’s grip on the Bledisloe Cup.
When he replaced Robbie Deans in July last year, McKenzie handed the efficient Matt Toomua a test debut rather than risk Cooper suffering a World Cupstyle meltdown against the All Blacks. Now with the erratic Queenslander unavailable through injury, he has opted to use his other X-factor playmaker to unsettle a side that has not lost to the Wallabies since 2011.
‘‘We recognise against the All Blacks you’ve got to get out there and have a crack. You need to take a few risks and get on it with,’’ McKenzie said, when justifying Beale’s selection ahead of Foley, the Super Rugby final-winning hero for the Waratahs – and until now his first-choice goal-kicker.
Beale, who has not kicked at goal for the Wallabies since his infamous slip when attempting to land a match-winning penalty in the first test against the British and Irish Lions in June last year, will now vie for the goal-kicking role with halfback Nic White.
Should Beale be given the opportunity to exorcise the demons of Suncorp Stadium, it will continue a remarkable sequence of redemption since he was suspended by the Melbourne Rebels for punching team-mate Cooper Vuna in Durban 17 months ago.
He was suspended and then entered rehab to treat alcoholrelated issues and, although he played against the Lions, a shoulder reconstruction meant he did not feature in McKenzie’s plans until the June series against France.
Beale learned on Monday he would start ahead of Foley – a reward for rejuvenating his career in Sydney – and was relaxed after playing off the bench against the French.
‘‘I’ve got a bit of experience under my belt now,’’ he said, emphasising he would temper his natural flair by playing within McKenzie’s gameplan. ‘‘I think that’s the difference between test matches and Super Rugby. You need that bit of structure to get yourself settled into a game and [then] lean back on when you’re finding it a bit tough.’’