Beale up for Giteau challenge

Editor

Waratahs' fly-half Kurtley Beale is relishing the challenge of taking on opposite number Matt Giteau of the Western Force when the two teams go head to head in the all-Australian Super 14 derby match on Saturday.

Waratahs' fly-half Kurtley Beale is relishing the challenge of taking on opposite number Matt Giteau of the Western Force when the two teams go head-to-head in the all-Australian Super 14 derby match on Saturday.

The Waratahs' teenage sensation and the Force's Test veteran first faced off in last year's thrilling 16-16 draw, with Giteau getting the better of his 18-year-old opponent.

But now in his second season as a professional, the former schoolboy sensation is ready to test himself against the man widely tipped to claim the Wallabies number ten jersey this season.

“That's the best thing about playing Super 14 because you play the best of the best in the world,” Beale told Sportal.

“I was fortunate to play (All Blacks fly-half) Dan Carter two weeks ago and now I'm up against Matt Giteau.”

“I'm not going to change my game for anything. Obviously he's a very important player in their side, he organises their attack very well and that's what I'm going to try and do for the Waratahs.”

Beale is unfazed by the prospect of facing the player who is favoured to be new Wallabies' coach Robbie Deans's first choice at pivot, but instead insisted his sights are set firmly on securing the win for his side.

“Obviously it's pretty important, it's pretty significant,” said Beale.

“But I don't think both teams are going in looking to – obviously they're going to go in and try and outplay the other bloke – but we're not really focused on the Tests.”

“We want to try and get over each other and get in there and get stuck into it and try and come out with a win.”

The Force has yet to record a win over their more established rivals since entering the competition in 2006. But with both sides still very much in contention for a semi-finals berth, Beale expects Saturday's showdown will be a willing affair.

“There's definitely going to be a bit of a grudge between us, you know obviously there's a few mates playing against mates so the rivalry's definitely going to be there,” said Beale.

“They've (The Force) been playing pretty well, they had a pretty good start to the season playing some really good teams and they came up with some really good wins so it's going to be a big one for us and we're up for it.”