Back to the future for Wallabies
28 Jun 2006
The Wallabies are looking at a schoolboy prodigy to take over from flyhalf Stephen Larkham.
Wallabies coach John Connolly said that Kurtley Beale is a future star of the Australian team, and that he could make next years’ World Cup in France with Australia.
Seventeen-year-old Beale, who has been fingered as a long-term replacement for flyhalf Stephen Larkham, impressed during his first training session with the Wallabies, Connolly said.
“He’s got an outstanding schoolboy record and it’s about time we had a look at him,” Connolly said of his decision to bring Beale into the Wallabies three-day training camp ahead of Australia’s Tri-Nations match against New Zealand on July 8.
“He’s just great with the ball at 17 – he’s 18 in January – it’s an area in Australian rugby where we’re definitely searching for replacements for Steve Larkham in the long term and he’s one guy who’s been mentioned.”
Connolly said it was possible Beale could join the Wallabies’ tour of Britain, Ireland and Italy later this year, adding that the schoolboy could be 32-year-old Larkham’s back-up for the World Cup.
25 Comments
28 Jun 2006, 15:23 pm
FIRST!
28 Jun 2006, 15:24 pm
Lee Grant must be in heaven, he has been boosting this boy for at least 2 years. Good on you mate!
28 Jun 2006, 15:27 pm
Told you guys , these guys are going to come back and beat the All Blacks and South Africa in the 3 Nations. Even old Gregan are playing beter rugby this year. Watch out for the wobblies
28 Jun 2006, 15:27 pm
well then JP, Spies & Chilliboy are old enough
28 Jun 2006, 15:27 pm
FOURTH!!!!!! GET A LIFE Koos.
28 Jun 2006, 15:28 pm
Tenminste het hulle n plan ons het met Jake daar nie n plan met n loskakel nie ons volhou maar met ou Jaco ons is dom maar ons werk hard hieja hieja hou
28 Jun 2006, 15:30 pm
The Aussies have got the right mindset … they realize Larkham is not going to be around forever and they are already looking for a replacement … We on the other hand will rather play the player who is past his sell by date and is so out of form that it leaves a bad impression of a once great player until he does go and we dont have any backup …there are many examples of this …
Look what happened when Henry Honnibal retired , no replacement and today we still sit with no fly half , the same is going to happen with Os , Percy and Matfield ….
28 Jun 2006, 15:34 pm
next thing kids will be put on a gym program as they come out of the …
28 Jun 2006, 15:42 pm
I have seen this kid before he is not a lot bigger than Brent Russell, even if he does bulk up and mature more physically he will never be more than 85kgs yet with the aussies his size doesn’t seem to be a big problem why is it only us who are obcessed with size and strength?
28 Jun 2006, 15:44 pm
no worries grey… altough aus monitor and develop their future stars better, i still believe that SA is more rich in talent than both NZ and AUS we have guthro, pietersen and Skeate, Spies, Chilliboy, Barrit too name a few. We just have to learn how to beter develop these guys
28 Jun 2006, 15:46 pm
I hope you taking notice JW. We are desperate at the moment.
28 Jun 2006, 15:47 pm
we have the grapes, but we can’t make the wine
28 Jun 2006, 15:50 pm
Steel Shark,
I agree with you 100%, the Aussies have no problem with size. They seem to be able to see beyond a player with a 100kg frame.
There loose forward combo of Smith and Waugh is a pure reflcetion of that. They still seem to win line out ball and kick off ball although they have a hight handicap in there forwards. On top of that, they secure more phase play than any other team.
It eats me to say this, but, I’ve really enjoyed watching the Ausies play against Ireland and England. They have such intellegant players who use the space on the field and dont panic after the 3rd phase.
28 Jun 2006, 15:54 pm
Funny that if the aussies call up a youngsters to train with the squad its a brilliant idea but when a bok coach does it people start bitching and moaning about it.
Remember
1) Harry Viljoen calls up F Swart everyone ******* because he is too young.
2) Jake white calls up a young Habana and the press mention the possibility that Ralepele may get a callup -> everyone cries quotas.
Its just so weird , the Boks will never really get anywhere in an enviroment were everyones a sceptic and every decision is met with cries of either provincialism , racism etc.
28 Jun 2006, 15:54 pm
The problem with the boks was summed up by John Smit on Saturday(he just didn’t notice it). John said that the forwards have a lot to blame for for not setting up the backs. He thinks that unless theres a 2 man over lap created, the ball shouldnt go past the flyhalf. What we should be doing is playing like the Crusaders where they send the ball wide all the time, but have two men clearing the ruck whenever someone is tackled. From there you run it again and before you know it whola theres an overlap. And yes it is this simple. We have the players to do it especially when de Vill and Fourie are playing. Jaco Hopeless just needs to pass the ball instead of trying to kick it(which he sucks at anyway)
28 Jun 2006, 16:04 pm
Bok Fan,
The reality is with the current squad we dont have the players to play the phasers. Our current forwards seem slow to the breakdown point. Once SA eventually gets the overlap, its forwards taking the ball, cause the backs are sucked into rucks.
The other problem that SA faces is the scrumhalf (Fdp) tries to control the game to much with kicks or snipes and slow passes from the rucks, instead of quick passes to the runners. I feel/fear our best bet would be to keep the game as tight as possible to compinsate for the lack of pace.
28 Jun 2006, 16:34 pm
Hardcore
I agree we would have to change personal a bit but not much. Our players apear slow because they dont know what they suppose to be doing. A lot of our forwards are very good athletes, actually only Andrews is useless around the park and Os can get tied. I really believe if they players were told to run like crazy and get to all the break downs we would be able to do it because whenever we’ve tried it its worked. Shore we only do it for 10 min at a time but thats because the flyhalf only feels like it once very 5 tests.
Yes FDP has to stop those kicks as does Jaco before I have a heart attack on a lovely Saturday afternoon.
We have the pace and the sidesteps. A tight gameplan only works in the rain or one off games, its veryy limiting to a team looking to the future (as in the next weekend)
28 Jun 2006, 16:38 pm
My friend hooked up with this guy’s girlfriend at a party the other weekend, oops.
28 Jun 2006, 16:49 pm
Wow , he makes Chllie-boy and co look like veterans !!
28 Jun 2006, 18:35 pm
Please – this guy will not get a call up. What a load of ****. The Aussies might end up going with Berick Barnes (spelling?) – but this oke can carry on dreaming.
I wish they would pick him though – Some fresh lamb for us flankers to eat…MMMMMMMM
28 Jun 2006, 19:13 pm
At least Ozzies will be competitive this year. Let’s not be fooled by their victory over Irish. The AB’s defense won’t as charitable as Irish & hapless Georgies. They simply have to blood new talent, but hasn’t got the depth of the Kiwis who has developed a core group, unlike ourselves who has the depth but don’t developed them.
28 Jun 2006, 19:28 pm
Question.
How is a player suppose to develop his skill if he’s to busy making sure he doesnt get killed on the field.
Koshuis rugby is not a jewel in our crown!
28 Jun 2006, 21:31 pm
Staal, Stan,
Julle het belangrike Mail!!
Vinger op die knoppie, eerste om te bel kry ‘n groot bonus!!!
Ek gaan nie vroeg slaap nie!
29 Jun 2006, 08:49 am
This guy (boy actually) is being over-hyped by the Ellas and other in the media – he is only 17 ffs and still playing schoolboy rugby. Suspect he’ll need at lest 3 years development before being seriously considered for the seniors.
29 Jun 2006, 13:44 pm
berrick barnes should be the next step up before Beale. my worry is that he will be going to the tahs who burn more flyhalfs than SA
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