Beale wants Wallaby fullback job fulltime

I hope I'm not coming off too hard on AAC though. He's a very good player and better than some of the more overhyped Aussie players we have (some of whom did better in the John Eales vote count). I especially respect his courage. I respect how he's got a little bit better each year too. He's very determined. I just think Kurtley adds a bit more spark to the fullback position. And truth be told, AAC is the best player we have right now who can fill the 13 role.

Ben I'm with Frank on this one. AAC very rarely threw to himself, so although I have no doubt that it was a team tactic I still think that KB would have thrown to himself more often than AAC simply because he would be more aware of getting the ball so he could, AAC would allow things to lie as they were rather than take a risk.

Interesting article and very honest of Beale to reveal so much. One of his more revealing comments: "During my younger days I put myself around some pretty unsteady people and I’m very happy that I’ve got a really good network around me at the moment.” Lets not forget he is young, from Mount Druitt, and an Aboriginal. He is carrying a lot of cultural baggage, some positive and some negative, but the fast food and alcohol doesn't surprise me at all, even if he is a professional sportsman. I am relieved he has seen the way and thats great that Deans took the time to talk with him and warn him. I think he has amazing natural talent and hope he is nurtured, guided and managed well for a while yet so it can continue to blossom. I fully agree with Frank's comment above that "we have a potentially great counter-attacking fullback" with instincts and flair. Can't wait to see how he goes on the tour.

Strongly agree, its amazing that professional players can't get themselves properly fit - and that doen't mean larding up while spending half the day in the gym pumping iron (a side product was they got injured very easily). Anyone could see that most of the Queensland players from 2005 to 2009 were appallingly and disgracefully conditioned ... they have to take a large part of individual responsibility for this.

Beale was made to gym it up to put on weight. They thought it would help his defense if he was heavier. Pretty silly really, as it is his technique which needs work, not his size.

"...that the Tahs let him muscle up to 100kg and lose his speed ..." Ummm, that wasn't muscle....

Totally agree ncart - Beales lack of progress at the Waratahs says it all about the 'system' in NSW. Diet and conditioning are the absolute basics in the professional era and that the Tahs let him muscle up to 100kg and lose his speed and instinctual play is pathetic. They need a flush out in NSW rugby. As for Beale now I tend to agree with Frank in general. Beale has class written all over him and has shown that in his running game this year as he lost weight and built confidence during the TN. To really make it to the top level of international 15s he needs to learn how to take bombs consistently (that can be coached) and use the players around him a little better. His defence has really improved this year so it is only the catching and positional play that need improvement. I get the feeling Deans is going to leave him at 15 for some time to develop - he has seen how Beale and O'Connor can unlock any Defence and now he has thrown in Davies to take advantage of any half break. I like how this backline is building! I like AAC as well but Beale (younger and more growth potential) has more to offer in the longer term if he gets it right.

That's fair, Frank. Beale does have excellent instincts.

That's a pretty fair summary of what has gone before, Frank. Burke (of the Mighty Woods) was captain reliable and Latham, in his first period, was the only recent one with real instinctive flair that produced regularly. I miss the frightening tightrope walking brilliance of Campo when he played at the back, Greg Martin and Mighty Woods man Marty Roebuck were both competent. And yes, Gould was under-rated. All of those mentioned were good at all parts of their job, as well as bringing their individual extra contributions. I simply do not believe Beale is in the same class as any of his predecessors.

Oh, p.Tah - I spent too many games down there watching with my head buried in my hands early on, over the Waratahs early on in Super 10s, before migrating north to escape the shame of it all. I spend much of my time hauling No 1 son (who lives there) back from throwing himself off a tall building now - he does not like the coach who he did not rate highly at school either!

Sssshhhh Cattledog - when the the bailiff came around the other night looking for you I said "Cattledog's gone to the 'stan droving, and we don't know where he are". Good on you mate, wondered when you'd resurface. I take it you're back with the Kosciusko night temperatures - trust you're travelling well. On the subject matter - I do like seeing apprentices do their time and qualifying before getting to play with the big boys' tools. I'm looking forward to what the European Tour brings forth for both Australia and this All Blacks juggernaut - I've not checked but I assume we'll have Fox coverage of most of our matches at least. Discovered last week there may be more to do in rugby yet, when asked if interested in a role with the local 1sts next season. They must have lost their loose head! :)

Either way, Kurtley succeeded better than Ashley-Cooper has at counter-attacking. And AAC make some strong counter-attacks during the 2009 tour of Europe. Whether it was a tactic or not (and you know it probably was), Kurtley executed it better than anybody else, and used more instinct than I've seen in an Australian fullback since maybe Campese. Matt Burke ran the ball back and was very well-rounded and courageous. He's Australia's best fullback ever, but he wasn't a player of instinctual flair, despite being so incredibly all-rounded and awesome. He scored that awesome try in 1996 by throwing a dummy and fooling Christian Cullen. But Matt Burke reminded me more of Brendan Moon, and THAT'S A HUGE COMPLIMENT. Moon wasn't flashy because he didn't need to be. He was so balanced, so complete, he made the difficult things easy, and because he did them with ease he didn't come off as a player of flair. Matt Burke was like that. Burke is arguably one of Australia's 10 best players ever, and he'll make my all-time Wallaby XV. But a Serge Blanco or Campese in flair? No. Latham's an interesting one. I was recently watching some old footage recently from his days. He was a player of flair back in 1999, and very expressive. But he maybe made a few mistakes along the way which I can tollerate, but sadly coaches didn't. Latham's sadly a case of a diamond being grinded and not polished. Take the 2001 Lions series. He played in the first half of that test and got burnt off by Jason Robinson. He got subbed. As I recall, Matt Burke didn't do much better with Brian O'Driscoll. As it turned out, Matt Burke's kicking was what won that 3rd and final test, while Jonny Wilkinson's boot failed. So it was good Burke played. But Latham wasn't the same after that. Latham came back and seemed more intent on making less mistakes, and as such didn't counter-attack as much. As it happened, his kicking game was brilliant. I talk about Gould's massive boot, but Latham was just as good if not better. Screw-kicks, grubbers, punts, up and unders. There wasn't a kick he couldn't do. As such he was one of Australia's best players during those dark years where the forwards were horrendous (the end of Eddie Jones reign and all of Connolly's reign). But he was more conservative during those years, which was sad. He had great instincts and occasionally used them. I honestly Rod MacQueen dropping him, and Jones not using him until 2003-ish caused him to change. MacQueen wasn't one for risk-takers. Eddie Jones still called Latham the best fullback in the world around 2006, and one of the five best players in the world. But I preferred seeing the expressive Latham. Still the Wallabies have missed him since he's been gone. Roger Gould was the greatest defensive fullback I've ever seen. So safe and so secure. He'd take the high ball and leave stud marks in your face. You'd kick the ball to him and he'd return it in interest. He had such an effect on the 'shape' of games because it was useless kicking the ball to him. He only rarely dropped the high ball (99% he was fine), was hard to bring down, and would roost the ball a mile. He was also underrated in how he'd take a few defenders out of the way when he entered the line. Mark Ella used him for some effective crash-ball play very effectively. Really one of the greats, and a little underrated. Beale's not like any of them... except maybe the young expressive Latham. And it's exciting to think we have a potentially great counter-attacking fullback. It doesn't matter what Deans tells him, you need the talent to pull it off, and Kurtley's done that this year.

'I guess that’s what separates Beale from Ashley-Cooper with me. Beale takes risks and uses his instincts. He has a go and tries to do things where you don’t know if these things will work. But he has the talent and the instincts to do the unexpected.' Do you not think it was a team tactic to take quick throws, as opposed to Kurtley Beale's big idea, Frank?

What astonishes me is that after so many years of being a professional athlete he has only now realised the benefit of not eating fast food and cutting down his alcohol intake! Come on - who has been advising this guy until Robbie Deans talked to him? Don't the Waratahs have personnel that can lay this sort of thing out? Even allowing for perhaps the guy has never been given good examples of healthy eating etc (or lacks the ability to work this out for himself) prior to becoming a professional footballer, wouldn't it be logical that his employers would sit him down and lay out an eating plan for him that would have him in optimum condition? Really makes me wonder about the level of professionalism in Australian rugby - being a professional means more than just being paid to play. Perhaps this is why Beale has failed to deliver on his promise for so long - he has been woefully advised/managed/coached and/or perhaps has chosen to ignore all advice. What does this say about the other young players in the system? Are they equally left to their own devices until they screw up at a nightclub and only then their lifestyle gets addressed?

Kurtley Beale's performances against South Africa this year were incredible. There was that amazing try that he set James O'Connor for. Then the next week there was the try he scored by backing up James O'Connor. That was an amazing try that stretched the Boks. And then there was that amazing kick. He makes tiny mistakes here and there which never bother me. What really made him effective is that SA dominate teams with their line-out supremacy. But against South Africa he refused to accept line-outs. He kept throwing the ball in for himself and counter-attacking. He had no way of knowing how all these counter-attacks would go, but he just had a go. I guess that's what separates Beale from Ashley-Cooper with me. Beale takes risks and uses his instincts. He has a go and tries to do things where you don't know if these things will work. But he has the talent and the instincts to do the unexpected. Oh dear! Have I just built-up Kurtley Beale too much? I think so. Now he's doomed for failure and I have to suffer ohtani's jacket's condescension.

He is only keeping the job warm for Mark Gerrard or AAC. There are 4 unfit 13s in Mortlock, Horne,Ione and Chambers so one would think AAC will go back to fullback come RWC.

He needs to get out of NSW before chris Hickey does anymore damage.

Hello Mick...yep, pretty much on the money again. He has great potential, let's hope he can 'maintain' his current network and keep out of trouble. Time will tell.

Mick, I'm sure you only hold that view because he's a Waratah ;)

And tackling - and wanting to tackle; throwing a pass where it was meant to be thrown; blending into a backline in the right spot nearly every time, not just a couple of times per season; protecting the ball and retaining possession at the breakdown; not waiting 'til his meagre abilities have been exhausted and then, in dumb panic, dribbling the ball into a sea of legs all around him; and understanding that another player in a better position to succeed is waaaaay more important than pursuing Facebook fame by going oneself and failing continually. This bloke's the highest paid apprentice rugby hopeful in recent history!