Super Rugby 2018: Wallabies star Kurtley Beale returns to NSW Waratahs with a new focus
KURTLEY Beale says his game is now more smarts than ‘sparkle’ but a few trademark chip kicks from his teenage years could still be used to beat the Stormers on Saturday night.
Waratahs
Don't miss out on the headlines from Waratahs. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Karmichael Hunt should look to play rugby overseas
- New father Rob Simmons has plan to avoid sleepy state
ENTERING his second decade of Super Rugby, Kurtley Beale says his game is now more smarts than “sparkle” but a few trademark chip kicks from his teenage years could still be used to beat the Stormers on Saturday night.
Beale has overcome an elbow injury that kept him out of the Brisbane Tens and will return for the Waratahs in the Super Rugby opener at Allianz Stadium against the South Africans from Cape Town.
Beale is set to be named in an all-new midfield, with new recruit Lalakai Foketi in line to make his NSW Super Rugby debut at No.13. It is understood Curtis Rona will play on the wing.
In the forwards, locks Rob Simmons and Tom Staniforth will debut in blue, with Ned Hanigan set to be named at No.6 and Michael Wells at No.8.
It will be Beale’s first Super Rugby in almost two years, after a knee injury cut short his 2016 season and a stint in England saw him miss the Tahs’ dismal campaign last year.
There is no hiding the club’s expectation that Beale will be the spark that can quickly revive the Waratahs’ fortunes.
Beale arrived with a bang as an 18-year-old in 2007 by scoring in his second Super Rugby game with a chip-and-regather, and he continued to score exceptional solo tries.
The veteran playmaker has remained a crucial component to his team’s strike capacity but the years have changed the way he does it, he feels.
“I feel like I don’t have that spark or that sprinkle at the moment,” Beale said.
“As I have grown into my career, I feel like picking when to do the big play — and when not to — I have realised the impact of trying to do a big play on the team and if it doesn’t come off it can put pressure on the team.
“I feel like I am a player now who can help manage a game, certainly help the halves in beside me, and be that link man hopefully who can help release the guys outside me like your Israels, Curtis Ronas and Alex Newsomes.
“We have a lot of special talent out wide and if I can help manage the game and not always go for the big play, and direct the team around with Bernard (Foley) ... then I know I am fulfilling my role for the team. That’s all I need to worry about really.”
Returning from a successful season with Wasps, Beale said last year he’d come back as a more rounded player, with better insight into the different ways of applying pressure.
“I can certainly bring that towards our game this year with the Tahs. I had a little bit of an influence about that with the Wallabies when I came back last year,” he said.
Beale said despite the fact there are different mindsets in Super Rugby and the Premiership, the competitions are “very similar”.
“There is no right or wrong about it. There is no better or worse,” he said.
The Stormers like to dominate with their forward pack and, though they’ve developed a good running game in recent years, traditionally pride themselves on an aggressive defence.
“In the past the chip kicks can slow down their line speed,” Beale said.
“I remember the Brumbies were doing a few years ago as well. So when you can release pressure through chip kicks or crossfield kicks, you can put them in two minds so the next time we attack we can weigh up the options and go from there.”
Through Foley and Beale, the Waratahs overcame a 14-man press by the Rebels in their trial by successfully kicking short and crosskicking.