Training well: Kurtley Beale
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It seems likely that Kurtley Beale will wear the fly-half jersey for Australia in their upcoming Rugby Championship meeting with South Africa in Pretoria.
Beale, who came under critcism from head coach Robbie Deans earlier in the tournament for poor form, has reportedly shone at 10 during training.
The 23-year-old Rebel is expected to take the spot of the injured Quade Cooper after the Reds pivot was ruled out due to minor knee surgery.
Subsequently, Berrick Barnes will continue at full-back as Australia attempt to come through a week that was disrupted by a gastro bug in the squad.
Openside flanker Liam Gill, blindside flanker Scott Higginbotham, lock Sitaleki Timani and tighthead prop Ben Alexander were all affected by the bug.
Meanwhile, Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore has been replaced in the squad by Reds front-rower James Hanson. Moore has been ruled out after aggravating his troublesome hamstring injury.
Comments
APV1 says...
@ northandsouth - I have no idea, but I'd like to think so. And his actions thus far would suggest it too.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/9566189/Stuart-Lancaster-to-use-zero-tolerance-approach-at-Englands-training-camp-ahead-of-Autumn-internationals.html#
Posted 21:15 26th September 2012
northandsouth says...
APV1 - easy answer: no depth. If you got rid of the guys who did things that were a bit stupid and in keeping with the immature drinking culture that sits around most of the Oz footy codes (particularly in Sydney), you'd have no one left. England doesn't have many truly world class players, but their strong player base tends to mean if a good players got to go, there is a decent player there to replace him. Would Lancaster have been able to be so firm and principled if his half was a Will Genia, the next best guy was a Nick Phipps, and he had a 6 Nations decider in Cardiff on Saturday?
Posted 17:27 26th September 2012
Carpelone says...
Look at Beale in the picture. Did he see something small in Oz's changing room?
Posted 12:36 26th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ NHSaints - I think the assault charge has been proven, but "settled out of court". I suspect that sukkadoits is right and it comes down to our delightful press.
Posted 10:48 26th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
Only thing giving the Wallabies, and their fans, the $hits is Deans.
Yet another new combination in the the team.
Posted 10:20 26th September 2012
JamieTheProp says...
Thought you had to be bright to play 10? Mind you Farrell isn't the brightest either!
Does anyone in international rugby look more stupid than Beale though? He is a fully paid up member of the mouth breather society.
Better rugby player than me mind!
Posted 07:31 26th September 2012
new_j4a says...
Has Suzie come out of retirement?
Posted 04:16 26th September 2012
porridge_time says...
Robbie Deans must be pulling his hair out with these guys.
Posted 03:44 26th September 2012
passtheball says...
Re photo - So Bealey, its how big?
The brain that is. It used to that Aus rugby was mostly a private school sport and all the players were uni grads but thats long since gone. Not that uni guys are paragons of virtue.
Posted 02:48 26th September 2012
tha_mai says...
melkdave - think it would be too big to consider Christian Lealiifano at this time of year, Super rugby for Chiefs and Brumbies and no test experience throwing him in v SA would be a cruel start esp after so long out with injury (May). Possibly a chance for their end of year tour if he is recovered/can prove fitness. Def one for the future, but Deans can't miss what he never had!
Posted 00:17 26th September 2012
sukkadoits says...
@APV1 its because the NH rags love it when fame falls from grace. They dine on it. Its becomes a long running soap opera up there. Down here it gets reported, commentated on, they are vilified for a short time, and then we hope they get back on the horse and get on with it. Also, league has had its worse share of scandals so union's are small scale by comparison.
Posted 22:45 25th September 2012
Demers says...
Good idea, Armchair. If Quade ever does play for the Ws again, and scores a couple, the headline reads: Gastro Bug Lays Boks Low. Or, if he screws up again, the headline becomes: Wallabies Gastrobuggered.
Posted 21:41 25th September 2012
BigRugbyBalls says...
"Quade, your tadger is this big."
Posted 21:23 25th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Although Beale hasn't been a model pro at least he's kept his mouth shut and despite being dropped a couple times he's obviously worked hard to put himself in the frame. I doubt Robbie has many options but tis could be Beales big chance so hope he takes it..
Posted 20:15 25th September 2012
NHSaints says...
@APV1 I'd guess because there's no 100% confirmation of him doing anything wrong YET and also because on his day he's one of the best players in the world...
Posted 20:04 25th September 2012
Cdn_content says...
Makes no sense, Beale is an experienced 15 who has done very well at test level and doesn't have a lot of test level 10 experience under his belt. Barnes is the opposite. Why not switch them? Scared that the Ozzie centers offer very little in attack?
Posted 18:43 25th September 2012
melkdave says...
A big gamble for R.Deans and the wallabies imo,given his recent form,personnally i think his overated as a player,yes he has skills ,but his not consistent enough One week his good the other he is not,but given the sparity of ozzie FHs .I expect R.Deans hasnt really got any options.Just how much is he missing C.Leafarno i wonder .who was the inform FH before his season ending injury.
Posted 16:46 25th September 2012
APV1 says...
Genuine question:
What is it with Deans and his selectors? Why do they insist on picking the "bad apples" and not making an example of them (a la SL and Danny Care in the 2012 6N)?
Nov 10 - Beale & Cooper "drinken fight" with JOC
Mar 11 - Beale driving car illegally (I know it was a gift and he claims he didn't know)
Feb 12 - Beale, Cooper and Cipriani - car crash
June 12 - Beale (& Cooper) - bar assault charge
Sep 12 - Beale, Cooper & Ioane - car incident.
I'm not doubting his (their) talent, but why do Cipriani, Henson, Powell, etc get so vilified, yet Beale (in particular) seem to be free from criticism?
Not trolling, although I appreciate that it may appear so, just genuinely curious. Especially the Bar Assault charge - the others are debateable - "justice mediation" seems like a good system, but what are the ARU doing about it now? I'm not on a witch-hunt, just curious as to why some players are held in such high esteem that their behaviour can be overlooked and accepted by the "management" and fans alike.
Posted 15:11 25th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Quades new name? Gastro bug.
Posted 13:55 25th September 2012