Sound of silence: Waratahs players feeling motivated by the vibe coming off Michael Cheika

THE silent treatment from Michael Cheika is keeping Waratahs players on edge and driving competition for spots.

Waratahs winger Peter Betham celebrates a try by Alofa Alofa in the trial against the Auckland Blues.

THE silent treatment from Michael Cheika is keeping Waratahs players on edge and driving valuable competition for round one selection, according to Kurtley Beale.

Beale turned in an impressive audition for a jersey on Friday night’s trial win over the Blues but given it was in three different positions - fullback, five-eighth and centre - he remains none the wiser about where, or if, he’ll end up in the backline.

Under the notoriously guarded Cheika, being kept in the dark is nothing new for Beale and teammates. It’s how they feel before walking on the training park every day

“Cheik holds a lot of stuff close to his chest and as player it’s keeping me focused and on edge and I’m definitely feeling the vibe off the boys,” Beale said.

“Rocking up at training not really knowing what’s going on … I think it’s definitely keeping us on our toes and pushing each other to the limits and you can feel it out there on the field.

News_Image_File: Kurtley Beale runs with the ball in both hands, looking for support, in an energetic performance.

“We’re all combining well and we all know our roles and all know where to be in certain positions on the field. Maybe that’s a trick I don’t know but there’s definitely a spark there.”

Beale was recruited back to the Tahs as a No. 10 or No. 15, but given his excellent trial form has been matched by fullback Israel Folau and five-eighth Bernard Foley, the consideration of putting the Wallaby into centre will now strengthen to get all three on the field.

NSW coaching staff indicated over summer they preferred the more direct options of Rob Horne or Jono Lance at No. 12, but Cheika opened the door for a two-playmaker approach on Friday night by saying creative attackers are now very important to break down defences in rugby.

“We need to start looking more often to make something out of nothing, because defences are so good these days … Beale did that tonight on several occasions,” Cheika said.

“Obviously we like to play an attacking game, so having two ball-distributing players and two attacking threats is often handy. But Jono Lance can fill that attacking role as well, and Rob Horne can play a slightly more direct game for us and did it well last year.

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“There are a few options for us, and maybe we’ll pick the strategy we think we will need when the competition games come up.

“It’s the idea of the recruitment, I suppose, is to create those options and have that pressure.”

Given he is a bigger guy than Foley, it’s likely Beale would be the man to shift out and though he said he was confident he could hold up defensively, the Tahs showed they were happy to drop Beale back out of the frontline defence on Friday night.

If Adam Ashley-Cooper was moved to a wing, for example, he would still be a strong chance to defend in the centres, allowing Beale to counter-attack in the back three.

“Obviously some pretty special players out there especially in those key positions, 10, 12, 15 - all positions I’m definitely putting my hand up for, so I’m just being part of the team,” Beale said.

News_Rich_Media: Benji Marshall says he is enjoying the challenge in rugby union despite the Blues hammering at the hands of the Waratahs.

“I’ve just got to pick my moments and not overplay my hand and just play my role. Everyone is doing their role and I’m no different. I’ll keep working on that and just try and play some consistent rugby.”

Cheika said while he understood the attention focused on the backline puzzle, it was all meaningless without a dominant forward pack. The Tahs’ big men turned up well on Friday night, with a solid scrum and good intensity at the tackle and breakdown.

Another looming selection battle for Cheika will be who will partner Kane Douglas at lock. Douglas’ energy - in defence particularly - makes him a certainty, leaving angry giant Will Skelton to joust for the other spot with Springbok recruit Jacques Potgieter, who will make his debut for the Waratahs in their final trial against the Highlanders in Newcastle on Saturday night.