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Tahs won't target Beale, says Carter

Roar Guru
19th April, 2012
5

NSW centre Tom Carter says the Waratahs have too much respect for Melbourne star Kurtley Beale than to rattle his cage in Saturday night’s Super Rugby clash in Sydney.

It’s the first time the former Waratah will line up against his old side, but Carter insists there will be no special attention given to Beale.

Perceived as one of Super Rugby’s biggest on-field antagonists, Carter says the Waratahs would be setting themselves up for failure if they made the clash all about their former fullback.

Carter said even after five years of playing alongside him, the Waratahs couldn’t fully know what to expect from the Wallabies mastermind.

“No, not at all. Not when you’re that good anyway,” said Carter when asked whether there would be a target put on Beale’s head.

“You don’t try and fire them up – that’s for sure.

“You can know his game as well as you want but he’s a world-class player … I think a big game isn’t too far away from him.

“He’s a tremendous player and, after the game, we’ll say hello and what not, but it’s just game nine for us and really important we win.

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“You can worry about a lot of peripheral things in this competition, but the importance of this weekend is a win.”

One of the peripheral things for Carter this season has been the ongoing saga involving him and Melbourne forward Adam Byrnes.

Carter accused Byrnes of eye-gouging in an incident back in round two and, after the Rebels’ lock later had his 10-match suspension overturned, Byrnes launched a scathing attack on Carter, labelling him a “disgrace”.

Byrnes, who has not been named for the Rebels this week, was later sanctioned for his comments, and Carter has wisely decided not to buy into a war of words.

Carter has been criticised through his career by commentators and opposition players for using niggling tactics on the field, but Waratahs assistant coach Alan Gaffney says the damaging inside centre hasn’t let the innuendo affect him.

Gaffney admits he was guilty of pre-judging Carter’s game and personality before joining the Waratahs, but says perception isn’t reality.

“I suppose I pre-judged him like a lot of people out there do at the present time,” Gaffney told AAP.

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“That’s the perception that a lot of people have – there’s no doubt about that … but he handles it well.

“He’s got an infectious personality and what he does, it’s enthusiasm. He’s a likeable guy to work with and I’m delighted he’s going well.

“People say he shouldn’t do this or he shouldn’t do that, and I’m not saying he should or he shouldn’t, but there’s a lot of other people who go out there and do it but nobody addresses.

“There’s a lot of people pre-judging Tommy without knowing him. If they met the man, I’m sure they’d change their opinion.”

Rocky Elsom has been named on the Waratahs bench by Michael Foley, to make his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, former NRL star Cooper Vuna has been included on the Rebels’ bench in his first match back from suspension.

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