Kurtley Beale

So the last few weeks has seen KB play 10 for the Rebels and he has impressed many. I know that he'd played there a bit before with the 'Tahs and he has been forced into playing there for the Rebels with Cips and JOC out, but regardless of that, he's done well.

Is there an argument to have him playing 10 for the Aussies? Is he a genuine option there, or just filling in really well. It's embarrassing how many of the Aussie backs can play so many positions so well. JOC, Beale, AAC, Iaone, Cooper, Barnes can all play at least 2 positions at the very top level.

It's the sun.

I think he was a talented young ten that mainly played 15 to build up his experience and he did so well there is stuck (similar to Rob Miller at Sale). Now he's forced back into his more natural 10 position and he is flourishing though he seems to take a fair old battering. In a way he reminds me of Geordan Murphy in that he is just a naturally gifted footballer and he will offer creativity and class wherever in the backline he is put because of his skill set.

I suspect JOC prefering to play 12 and with Cips gone Beale could be playing a lot more 10 for the Rebels. Especially, with Gerrard and Huxley also on the books and showing cannon style boots from the back three.

Haven't seen much of him, but I guess if it's true then he may start at 10 with Barnes at 12, Cooper on the bench.

He does get a lot of late hits doesn't he?

His defence is good though and yes with JOC outside him it could be a very good axis. Worth noting the Reb's have scored a heck of a lot more tries with him at the helm then with any other 10's.

I personally think Deans will make a mistake if he doesn't use Beale at 10.

Barnes showed on the weekend that tactically he is very effective, but nowhere near the danger Beale is.

I can't see how Cooper with so little game time could justify playing there is Beale has almost single handedly resurrected the Rebels.

I haven't seen much of him but if he is more consistent then Cooper that has to be better for Oz

biltongbek wrote:I personally think Deans will make a mistake if he doesn't use Beale at 10.

Barnes showed on the weekend that tactically he is very effective, but nowhere near the danger Beale is.

I can't see how Cooper with so little game time could justify playing there is Beale has almost single handedly resurrected the Rebels.

I guess it's a trade off - if they play Beale at 10 who plays fullback? I prefer AAC as a centre, though I guess if it's 10 Beale 12 Barnes they need a bigger 13, and AAC 15 would work.

I think that Beale offers a very consistent and very potent attacking threat but I'm not sure he is the best tactical option. Will Genia at 9 will help that just as he does when Cooper is at 10. However, I don't think they can afford a defensive weak link like Barnes in at 12 so will need some kicking options in the back three. JOC at full back is the obvious choice there.

Kiwireddevil wrote:

biltongbek wrote:I personally think Deans will make a mistake if he doesn't use Beale at 10.

Barnes showed on the weekend that tactically he is very effective, but nowhere near the danger Beale is.

I can't see how Cooper with so little game time could justify playing there is Beale has almost single handedly resurrected the Rebels.

I guess it's a trade off - if they play Beale at 10 who plays fullback? I prefer AAC as a centre, though I guess if it's 10 Beale 12 Barnes they need a bigger 13, and AAC 15 would work.

If you are going to play Barnes, which I am not very impressed with currently, why not put him at 15? Otherwise try Cooper at 15.

I think AAC is their best option at 15 now that JOC is unavailable and Beale likely to play at fly-half. Beale has a lot of pace, surely one of the fastest in world rugby. Barnes seem to know Wales inside and out and would surely be the best option at 12. So that then means shifting McCabe to 13.

Who will be the wingers, Ioane and... ?

Barnes seem to know Wales inside and out and would surely be the best option at 12. So that then means shifting McCabe to 13.

Straight through the midfield go the Welsh centres then. Nah, I'd expect McCabe and AAC to be the centres with Luke Morahan at 15 if JOC is unavailable. I think it's Morahan anyway, rapid Reds 15? (if you think Beale is quick this guy will make your jaw drop).

So we all agree that Oz have this amazing talent at finding players who can play multiple positions at the highest level, but after Beale they do not actually have another fullback?

Genia
Beale
Ione
JOC
Fa'Anga
-
AAC

We haven't managed to run through Barnes on the last two occassions. He was brave running into Roberts though.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Barnes seem to know Wales inside and out and would surely be the best option at 12. So that then means shifting McCabe to 13.

Straight through the midfield go the Welsh centres then.

The thing is wales won't have the ball so there will be no need to worry about the welsh going through players.

Due to the question over Cooper and the injury to O'Connor, the Wallabies may seem to be short on a fullback, but only becuase there is no current experienced player available, there are however one or two youngsters like Mogg, for example who might just get tested.

Mark Gerrard could get a recall as well

Mark Gerrard could get a recall as well

His cannon of a boot would put the Welsh onto the back foot territorially.

Stirling Mortlock could get a recall too.

Morgannwg wrote:Stirling Mortlock could get a recall too.

You never know... i rate him more when he's injured than a fit McCabe

He has been looking decent since his comeback.

What about Lote Tuqiri, Rodzilla and Matt Dunning?

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=matt+dunning&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=622&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=-lMdazWnnohNFM:&imgrefurl=http://therollingmaul.blogspot.com/2010/05/australian-super-14-team-of-year-2010.html&docid=9sn4u1Sls6focM&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TyldWxb8Buw/S_9PUjpsZYI/AAAAAAAAALY/w9oDyZ-mtrs/s1600/dunning.gif&w=529&h=400&ei=JEC6T4m-K4Gf0QWX2bjPBw&zoom=1

Dunning is too fast. In defence he has a tendency to break the defensive line when he outsprints the other defenders.

He's too good at dropgoals as well. Aus need to save him for the Springbok games in the higveld

He'll have to hold back a bit there though, that big body needs lots of oxygen.

When is JOC supposed to be fit again

I think the idea of a

Beale-Barnes-AAC midfield is pretty tasty.

Barnes has been hopelessly off the pace this season and to be honest i've never really rated him, it's just that Oz with Cooper and co have always cried out for some sort of tactical/territory player.

Cooper at 15 Biltong!? Are you crazy? If someone broke the line Australia would be screwed

Is Mitchell back and playing again to the level he was?

If Cooper is fit he should play 10. Beale is their best 15 AAC is their best 13 and JOC is just a great player and is probably their best 12 if fit if not Barnes at 12.
If Cooper is not fit put that other Reds Kiwi in, Harris. Who cares about wings get the 9/10 and 12/13 thing working first.

Look at NZ they are going to be without Kahui and Jane vs the Irish. We'll probably have to make do with Savea and Dagg on the wings. Bl**dy terrible. But at least that will let Ben Smith and Taylor have a go. Not much experience out there but as long as Conrad calls the shots and Hansen etc don't interfer too much we might scrap through.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Cooper at 15 Biltong!? Are you crazy? If someone broke the line Australia would be screwed

I've been asked that question a lot lately.

Cooper at 10 and Barnes next to him at 12 in my view is not Australia's best defensive combination. James O'Connor is out for the welsh series.

So you need to look at ow you will use your best attacking weapons to outscore the welsh. Genia is a dead certain at 9, Cooper in my view will not have enough game time to be remotely as effective as Beale at 10, O"Connor at 12 is missing, so Ioane at 12, with AAC at 13, makes that part of the equation very, very dangerous indeed. Then you need to see which wingers are in form, plus cooper at 15, who in my view will have time to settle during a match, still has great feet and a good boot. Yes he may blunder at 15, like he sometimes does at 10, but he will have less effect at 15 if he blunders.

The alternative is to bring Mortlock back to 12, as he seems to be in good nick for a sawnsong, and then put Ioane back at wing.