The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Kurtley isn't an inside centre, he's a second five-eighth

Roar Guru
18th August, 2014
Advertisement
Michael Cheika reckons Kurtley Beale could be headed home. (Photo: Paul Barkley/LookPro)
Roar Guru
18th August, 2014
63
2833 Reads

Following Saturday’s 12-12 Bledisloe Cup draw, surely the debate over Kurtley Beale playing 10 has been put to bed.

Kurtley Beale is one of the best in world rugby today and plenty want to see him succeed regardless of position.

However, setting our rose-tinted glasses aside, it is clear that Kurtley at 10 is a pipe dream.

There were certainly some positives in Beale’s performance, however he wasn’t able to settle into a rhythm in the new position and his soft hands, fast feet, and rare rugby talent went largely unseen for 80 minutes.

So let’s weigh up the pros and cons of KB at five-eighth, and see if we can perhaps come to a decision.

The first argument against Beale playing 12 has forever been his defence, with some believing 10 is more forgiving. But when it comes to the All Blacks, you get Ma’a Nonu at 12 and All Black forwards off Cruden’s hip at speed at 10. Neither is a place for a shrinking violet in defence.

Regardless, Beale held his own, which really shouldn’t come as a surprise given that he just finished a season, in the supposedly more challenging position, that culminated in the Waratahs winning the Super Rugby premiership. Furthermore, the Tahs conceded the second fewest tries and fewest total points of any team in that tournament. And did I mention that Beale marked the best 12s in the world throughout the Super season, including the freight-train like Nonu?

The second argument in support of Kurtley at five-eighth is his x-factor, which makes it hard for the All Black defence to settle, in turn creating opportunities for the men in gold.

Advertisement

While this wasn’t shown on Saturday, it’s not fair to judge Kurtley given the abhorrent conditions that accompanied his opportunity at 10.

What we can say with certainty is that when you have arguably the most dangerous attacking backline in the world, you do not need x-factor at first receiver.

What the Wallabies need at 10 is a field general. You need a player who can manage both the attack and defence with a certain level-headedness and poise, a player who can see the big picture, and most of all one with outstanding decision making, regardless of the occasion. These are not what KB is best at.

Beale is prone to being rattled at 10, and his body language during the game gave it away. His feet were not settled and his eyes were darting in every direction. Also, as has been in the case in the past, when he’s not sure of what to do Beale tries to do it all himself which too often ends in a turnover.

Compare that to Matt Toomua or Bernard Foley. Both have a certain aura and surety regardless of the situation, and simply play the game.

This tends to be the problem with ultra-creative playmakers, they are much better as front-runners and they run hot and cold. Quade Cooper and Carlos Spencer come to mind, among others.

So do not believe Steve Hansen’s conspiracy theory, no self-respecting front-row forward, least of all Ewen McKenzie, would knowingly select a player at the expense of the team. Remember how quickly James O’Connor was ousted?

Advertisement

However, in this case McKenzie has made an error of judgment, and to see why, we must swallow our pride and admit something to ourselves; in the era led by McKenzie and his old scrum partner from Randwick Michael Cheika, where Australia’s play is slowly regaining its iconic style, 12 is not ‘inside centre’. It is – as the New Zealanders call it – ‘second five-eighth’.

Kurtley Beale happens to be one of the best in the world at that interpretation of position. Not one thing he contributed on Saturday was as a result of him playing 10; his best work was in in second and third phases, where Toomua had started the preceding phase at first receiver.

If we take the masterful player that Kurtley Beale is and put him back where he should be, either Foley or Toomua will do the job at 10.

One would hope given his marvellous form, ball distribution, and dead-eye goal-kicking (which the Wallabies need desperately) that Foley should get the nod without hesitation.

The one positive we can take is that the odds paying for the Wallabies to win the Bledisloe would be pretty high right now, which is great because they clearly have a shot. But I for one, won’t be placing my bet until I read the team list next week.

To paraphrase the great Nick Farr-Jones at a breakfast I was lucky to attend last week, the selection of Kurtley Beale at number 10 against the All Blacks is a gamble that the Wallabies do not need to take.

close