Bernard Foley has hailed the passion and positivity of his returning fellow playmaker Kurtley Beale and believes they can bring some unpredictability to the Wallabies.
Beale has recently returned from a stint with the Wasps club in England, where he suffered a hamstring injury.
He is expected to be fit for Australia’s first Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship match on August 19 and appears the leading contender for the No.12 jersey.
‘I think what’s really impressed me me since he’s back is his passion and enthusiasm to play in the Wallaby jersey,” five-eighth Foley said.
“He made it really clear why he came home, because he wanted to make the most out of his Wallaby jersey
“The time he went away I think that probably hit home to him how much he missed the Wallaby jersey.
“I think its really exciting to have him back in a really positive frame of mind.
“I’m really looking forward to working with him, so we can express ourselves and play a style that we’re really proud of and that has a lot of variation and we’re not predictable and that hopefully we can challenge sides defensively.”
Foley’s long-time rival for the Australian No.10 shirt, Quade Cooper, missed out on the extended train-on squad.
“Quade is a quality player and he’s done a lot for the Wallaby jersey, so it is a bit of a surprise for me,” Foley said.
Although he was the only specialist five-eighth named in the extended squad with utility Beale as his back-up, Foley laughed off the suggestion the Wallabies would be in trouble if he got injured
“There are people to fill my role if required, so I don’t think I’m definitely a shoo-in or essential to the side,” he said.
Cooper and himself were the only regular Australian-qualified five-eighths starting in Super Rugby, with two New Zealanders and a South African filling the other spots, but Foley felt it was a cyclical issue.
“It’s been disappointing seeing the tens at a number of the franchises not being Australian, but I think it really goes in ebbs and flows,” Foley said.
“A couple of years ago we were very blessed in that position.”
He said there was some younger talent emerging in Mack Mason at the Waratahs and Hamish Stewart at the Reds.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
"Who could have cut England open at Twickers 2.5 yrs ago please tell…" I think that statement is telling enough as it is. England 2.5 years ago. Says it all really.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Hey Shakes, Well I have provided 1. Quotes 2. Quotes from Bernard Foley 3. Quotes where Bernard Foley was talking up the team. I think that pretty much deals with every element of Jameswm's question.
Shakes
Guest
Still waiting for you to answer jameswm's question.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
The Tahs abysmal performance against the Force?
London Waratah
Guest
Who is a better 10 than Foley in Australia? Who could have cut England open at Twickers 2.5 yrs ago please tell...Or was that Beale-Foley interchange not quite up to scratch? PS: Beale played all his school footy at 10 so I think we can relax on that front.
London Waratah
Guest
BEALE!!
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Hey eagleJack, If there was another 10 around would it make any difference ?
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
"Cooper has the attacking vision but his defence needs a lot of work" Yep - still better that Foley's though
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Swamprat, What position(s) has he been playing. How is his tackle defense? - Has it improved since he last played?
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Eagle, I am with you on this one. Lance, Cooper and Foley are our Viable Options. I prefer Lance but he can't stay unbroken. Cooper has the attacking vision but his defence needs a lot of work Jack Debracszeni was shaping up to be a useful 10/15. He needs work on handling - perhaps some work with Mick Byrne would make him international quality. Alas he is off to the land of Asahi. More talent squandered. McIntyre has potential but he has gone too. Mack Mason is our last white (headgear) hope. I hope he moves somewhere he can get a regular start. There is a real lesson here, we need to grow our future not hide them behind our stars. 4 SR sides is going to make this problem worse. If the Rebs stay, he could go play for them
dcnz
Guest
surely nothing else in 2017 can be as bad as that Wallabies second half performance vs Scotland. sorry, but that was superbad.
Ken Catchpole's Other. Leg
Guest
Wolman. I, for one, was at pains to clarify that I am not 'anti-Tah'. Far from it. Despite living close to Moore Park and supporting the Tahs, and whilst admiring the many Qualities of Bernard Foley, I can still see the bleeding obvious. Bernard is not the best 10 in Australia. Happy to be proved wrong but it's three years now and his core 10 skills keep pulling up short. Just can't thread an attack through a quality defence like another 10 from another state. Also happy for Kurtley to prove to me that he is a test 10. Been following him since he left school. Love his play absolutely. Similarly, I am yet to see his core 10 skills. More of a ball runner than ball player for mine. Happy to be proven wrong.
adastra32
Guest
To repeat from elsewhere, last season Wasps already had two No 10s (Cipriani, Gopperth who went to 12) and chose to play Beale at 15 most of the time he was fit. And while we're here, the new Aussie squad face Bill Meakes was conspicuous only in his anonymity when playing for Gloucester before moving home. Take from that what you will.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Beale will be an active reserve - If foley goes down, he will step into 10 and a bench player at fullback or 12 will fill the role.
OZ Rugby Fan
Guest
Well said sir! Gave me a chuckle actually!
marto
Guest
Hunt wont be available for Sydney or New Zealand..He might be available for Brisbane but Chuckles Wallas will have lost about 6 tests before Brisbane, so it will be irrelevant ...
Stuart John Pearson
Guest
Bernard Foley is right about Kurtley Beale being an X Factor. In 2015 the Walalbies won in Sydney (Steak and Kidney) vs the all blacks with Beale being in the team. With Karmichael Hunt and Kurtley Beale will they provide some Ella Brother Razzle Dazzle in Sydney (Steak and Kidney) and Brisbane (Brisvegas) this year? Plus it must a fair while since the all blacks have played at Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park) in Brisbane? Plus would Kurtley Beale and Karmichale Hunt do a Korri War Dance in reply to the Haka in Sydney and Brisbane this year? Foley at Ten Berale at Twelve and Hunt at Thirteen for the Olympic Stadium. Will the Wallabies resort to an all in brawl for both matches to unsettle the all blacks?
Hoy
Roar Guru
Of course you can, I just don't want to hear how well they trained when they all make rookie errors, the team plays like a busted and is smashed. It's the last thing I want to hear really...
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Geez I'm really interested to know who this sensational, out of this world, 10 is that keeps getting overlooked. Watched most games this year and didn't see him. I guess he plays with those other magical players, that if they were included, the Wallabies would be unbeatable. We'd get so bored continually putting 50+ points on the ABs. Meanwhile back in reality 3 of the 5 franchises have 10s who aren't Australian. We really struggle in the position. And I don't see it improving anytime soon. Which is terrible news.
marto
Guest
Hey Neil !! You out there ?? I got this from ESPN stats.. Get back to me when you see the blatant lie..HAHAHA Full name Bernard T. Foley Born September 8, 1989, Glenmorie, NSW Current age 27 years 330 days Major teams New South Wales Waratahs, Australia Position Fly-half Height 6 ft 0 in Weight 196 lb