To say people were shocked when Kurtley Beale was selected at fly-half in Bledisloe 1 is an understatement.
From where I was sitting, he never really got anything done. He didn’t have a good game, nor did he have a bad game. The man just didn’t look settled.
His performance could have been bettered by the likes of Bernard Foley, who with only ten minutes on the field did not have the chance to dictate the game in his usual style.
With Bledisloe 2 just a few days away, and the Wallabies in a must win situation, Ewen McKenzie has again selected Beale at fly-half.
Does it make sense?
That depends on what style of game the Wallabies want to play.
Beale didn’t look settled on Saturday night because the team lacked a go-to guy. They need a dependable playmaker that can command the team for 80 minutes. Someone who demands the ball, and can come through in a clutch situation.
Bernard Foley did the job at the Waratahs and could easily become this player against the All Blacks. Beale can fit into the role. But based on Saturdays performance, it seems unlikely that he is ready to command a team against the world’s strongest international outfit.
Beale and Matt Toumua, playing at inside centre, switched the role of first receiver a number of times, with Beale completing the task twice as many times. This suggests a lack of team understanding.
Beale played a very lateral game – running sideways on many occasions. Not something you see from a natural fly-half.
The Wallabies game plan really doesn’t suit this style of play. Bernard Foley, a solid distributor who is able to challenge defences and set up the backline to suit the game plan, is a better fit for the Wallabies.
Foley directs and leads the team in a way that Beale did not on Saturday. But not long after he entered the field and showed his class, the final siren sounded on a unsatisfying draw.
Matt Toumua should be given another chance at inside centre to show that he can lift his game. To retain his spot in future Tests he is going to have to start working for it.
Finally, no commentary on the Wallabies backline is complete without a discussion about the Brumbies path, or the Waratahs path.
To be able to out together a solid game plan that will pick apart the All Blacks backline, the selectors need to choose between a majority of Brumbies, or a majority of Waratahs.
To put together a working, Waratah based backline they would need to put Nick Phipps at scrum-half, Foley at fly-half, Beale at inside centre, drop Matt Toomua. This would leave Pat McCabe on the wing as the only Brumbies player.
If they chose to take the Brumbies direction they would somehow have to fit Tevita Kuridrani into the squad, which would not make sense, considering Beale and Toumua are both stronger at inside-centre.
The current Wallabies backline strategy is a bit of a mess. The selectors are sitting on the fence – mixing two different game plans together and hoping something goes right.
But sitting on the fence only gives you splinters.
My selection for the Wallabies backline in Saturday’s critical game is: 9. Nic Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Rob Horne, 12. Kurtley Beale, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Pat McCabe and 15. Israel Folau.
Robbo_76
Guest
With due respect, i can remember Beale running across field from first receiver on more occasions than i remember him running straight. I even remarked about that to my wife during the game, so there is a reason that everyone is saying it... That said, whilst surprised McKenzie picked Beale initially for 5/8, i would be upset if he dropped him to the bench after a game in those conditions. Foley looked good when he came on, but he was playing against 14 mostly tired opposition men and didn't win the game for us and his French series was ho hum...so on balance, i'm happy he has stayed with Kurtley, but it is a courageous decision and McKenzie will be hailed a hero if he is right (and the opposite if not). As for picking the mostly Waratahs backline, no i think you just pick your best players...
AussieinNZ
Guest
Why would you have as carthorse like McCabe on the wing? Wingers need to be sprinters not just defenders
Xenomorph
Guest
Beale DIDNT RUN SIDEWAYS FFS. Watch the game!!!!!! Trust me Ive watched the game about 3 times and Toomua, Folau, Cruden and a few others run sideways far more than Beale who runs no more accross the park in 70 min than Foley does in 5 min. Im so sick of people saying Beale ran sideways when he didnt. Yes I know he has a reputation for running sideways but there was a game played on sat, WATCH IT. Foley had 4 runs, 2 were accross field and a third he ran accross field slightly before straightening. I know this because Ive watched the game, you should too. If you think Beale ran the ball accross field you are simply wrong. Foley ran accross field far more, in 50% of his runs ffs. Toomua and Folau ran accoss field all night and yet you say Beale did WHEN HE DIDNT. I am simply amazed.
atlas
Guest
you are too harsh on KB - he can't do everything, he admits he has a limited repertoire . . . or is that abattoir? Kurtley Beale “Them flick passes aren't really in our abattoir"
George of Perth
Guest
Beale goes to League & the test selection problem for the Wallabies is solved. He can't tackle & he runs laterally - so why is he the 10? Oh, I forget he has "X" factor - what a load of crap .............
Luke Worthington
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the comment. You are right, White can get really stressed out and Phipps will command a line a lot better, showing grit and toughness. As for McCabe and Kuridrani, i can see that, sure. McCabe did look a bit out of sorts. I would love to see an all Waratahs backline with one Brumbies winger. It is all about the gameplan
GreenJim
Roar Rookie
Luke, I totally agree with your side expect for one possible suggestion. What about moving Kuridrani to wing. Surely he would be more effective the McCabe. To me McCabe looks out of place on the wing and without the finishing ability required at this level. But lets also consider that hopefully Speight will come into the picture shortly. I don't believe White is the option at 9 as some may have suggested above. Yes he has the better pass off the ground compared to Phipps but there are other issues. In most instances when in trouble or lacking options, his first instinct is to kick. He also lacks any real aggression. At one point in the last test, an All Black was over the ball and all he did was slap him on the back while looking at the ref. We got penalised for holding on. I have not doubt that Phipps would have ripped in and lodged his shoulder somewhere between the 4th and 5th rib. Toomua is extremely strong and solid at 12. But to win games we need to score tries. And unfortunately, as with White, his first option when n danger is to kick. And our kicking is pointless - whereas the Kiwis kick with purpose and quite often return a positive result. Why is it ok for the All Blacks to pick 5 crusaders in the starting pack - yet we get nervous when we pick a stack of waratahs. And please consider the quality teams and talent pool the All Blacks can choose from. Keep up the chat...great to see some healthy debate...and go the Wallabies. P.S. Sorry for the double up comment as I wasn't logged in earlier.
Luke Worthington
Guest
Ok thanks for the feedback
Realist
Guest
"Matt Toumua should be given another chance at inside centre to show that he can lift his game. To retain his spot in future Tests he is going to have to start working for it. " That statement is just completely wrong and makes your article pointless. He's played very well. The future for Oz is the Brumbies midfield (Toomua/Kuridrani or Toomua/AAC), the Red halves (Genia,Cooper), Folau and the Brumby Wingers (Speight, Tomane).
Far north reds fan
Guest
I agree with your team but I'd probably have nic white at HB because of his sharper pass
Rob9
Guest
This whole 'using Super Rugby combinations' stuff is getting a bit pedantic. They're important to a degree, but at the end of the day you pick the best guys for the position. These guys are professionals that end up spending oodles of time together. Take a look at the AB's 9, 10, 12, 13 line for Saturday night: Highlanders, Chiefs, Crusaders, Hurricanes. At full strength there's still not more than one from a particular camp (Highlanders, Crusaders, Blues, Hurricanes). Clearly SR combinations are hardly a 'must'. Agree Beale's not a 10, but Toomua's our best 12.