Australia coach Robbie Deans insists full-back Kurtley Beale won't repeat his error-strewn performance seen in the Rugby Championship opener.
Reeling from two defeats in as many weekends to New Zealand, Deans has recalled out-of-form Beale to the Wallabies starting XV to face South Africa in Perth on Saturday.
Beale was dropped from the line-up after fumbling and bumbling his way through the Wallabies' 27-19 loss to the All Blacks in Sydney, before regaining some confidence coming off the bench in the recent 22-0 loss in Auckland.
And Deans, who is under pressure to turn around the Wallabies' fortunes or face the sack, will hope the utility back can inject some urgency into the side.
"He's in a better space," Deans said of Beale.
"I don't think you'll see a performance like that from Kurtley again.
"He's too good a player for a repeat of that.
"It was just one of those nights really. It goes from bad to worse and just compounds. It's in the past fortunately. I've seen a player that's very keen not to have a repeat."
Beale slots in at fullback, with Adam Ashley-Cooper shifting to outside centre to replace the dropped Rob Horne.
Deans added that 23-year-old Melbourne Rebel had been putting in the hard yards in training to rectify his mistakes.
"He's working hard on and off the field. He's doing his homework, making sure he's around the detail, which helps a lot in terms of positioning. You're less likely to get exposed," said Deans.
Australia, without a point and bottom of the standings after two rounds, must defeat the Springboks to keep their slim title hopes alive in the inaugural Rugby Championship, which sees Argentina debut in the southern hemisphere tournament.
Comments
Trinats2 says...
jonesy2:
I agree with UBA05 (give it a rest) he doesn't come across as that much of an idiot !
UBA05: Beale was drropped to the bench for the next game. Hopefully he just had one of those nights, time will tell. But it wouldn't if he was sent away for 2/3 years. And that's the point jonesy2 was making. I don't think you are an idiot, just selective memory. Gilford being selected over Dagg last year/previous one ? Everyone in NZ were calling for Gilford over Dagg, because Dagg had a couple of abd games.
Posted 04:33 07th September 2012
paulynz says...
KiwiLad - I'm with you my bro. Yes, Kurtley had a shocker in the first test against the ABs but he will come again. He has too much talent not to...
Posted 02:14 07th September 2012
UBA05 says...
jonesy2 yes i indeed am an idiot and life without a brain is tough as one would expect but i take it one day at a time.
I sincerely hope I do not offend your super high level intellect as I suggest some of the rugby followers of the idiot kind like myself would maybe go for AAC at fullback and someone else at centre, jesse mogg, that waratahs fullback etc etc and just give beale time to reflect on his performance.
Is it just me or are SOME of the aussie fans on this site of late becoming unbearable. It was SOME of the saffas after the rwc, but even they gave it a rest.
Anyway you, SirJonesy are definately a class act!!
Posted 16:09 06th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I don't know. Hes a brilliant 15 most games for Oz. One missed tackle on Dagg was a planned move with the inside runner ready for Daggs pass which Dagg was shaping up to make if needed. Mistake there was Oz defensive pattern with 3 marking 2 on the other side. They should have had 2 deep behind pack to reflect same from AB 9 / 10 so they could track either side faster. Yes Beale had a shocker but most 15s would have had a bad day and defense coach has had no stick.
Posted 12:49 06th September 2012
UBA05 says...
Good man new_j4a
Posted 09:49 06th September 2012
jonesy2 says...
UBA05 -- you idiot. are you suggesting a player as brilliant as kurtley (second best fb in international rugby remember) doesnt get picked anymore because he had a bad game? how are you living without a brain?
Posted 09:47 06th September 2012
UBA05 says...
I think his selection indirectly shows why Nz are continually the best side. Can you imagine an AB having the game Beale had and getting recalled(I am aware that the two nations have different talent pools)?? He would not even come close to the waterboy's vest. Remember the french win in Nz in 2009, Messam missed a tackle that led to a try (not as obvious and easy as Beale's tackles) and was in the rugby wilderness for 2/3 years.
Players like Kahui and Cory Jane usually have average or slightly above seasons in super rugby but when they put on the black jersey they perform cause they know its last-chance saloon
Posted 08:52 06th September 2012
new_j4a says...
Posted 08:30 06th September 2012
melkdave says...
Dont expect KB to play as badly as he did in Brisbane ,but he is clearly out of form /confidance imo.He hasnt really had a decent game in the wallaby jersey all season ,Bad games against Wales ,Terriable 1st test against the ABs ,and just ok at best in the 2nd .Big big gamble imo from RD ,will he deliver,i dont think he will to be honest..I personnally think he started beleiving his own hype like QC ,and has paid the price for it.Needs to get back to reality,and work on his game imo.
Posted 16:05 05th September 2012
georgesmith says...
Oh God! Nowadays, i just can't trust two things. R. Deans' words and K. Beale's game. R. Deans just doesn't have it. Did he not see Super Rugby to realize that fearless N.Cummins is the destroyer that Wallabies desperately need? It's as if players like K.Beale, N. Sharpe, D.Dennis and B.Barnes are performing so superbly, team is winning everything and they are all indispensable. What is there to lose, if young player like R. Simmons gets a start this time because N.Sharpe has played two tests without making any impression. I say just kick this clown-coach out.
Posted 12:45 05th September 2012
KiwiLad says...
Kurtley Beale has been a class act, his recent performance in the canary yellow jersey was awful, I would not expect him to play that badly again.
Posted 11:08 05th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
"It was just one of those nights really. It goes from bad to worse and just compounds. It's in the past fortunately"
Yes Deans, at "bad" that's where a good coach would have used his bench !
Posted 11:01 05th September 2012