Continuity the key to unlocking NSW's attacking potential: Beale

Mon, Mar 18, 2019, 5:30 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Kurtley Beale says continuity is important for the Waratahs. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley
Kurtley Beale says continuity is important for the Waratahs. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

Wallabies and Waratahs star Kurtley Beale says continuity is the key for the NSW backline to shake off a slow start to the year in attack.

Beale admitted he hadn't been able to find his best rugby so far in 2019 with a disrupted start to the season, and the star-studded backline has been under pressure after some disjointed outings.

“Fitness is good, the body is feeling good. Form, it’s been hard to get that momentum in back to back performances,” Beale said.

“Missed round one because of the Wallabies rest thing, but that’s allowed me to get more running in the legs, make sure that the physical prep is all good and ready to go.

“Played Japan, then we had a bye, so it’s been a bit disrupted, hence we haven’t really created that momentum and flow-on that we would have liked.

The Waratahs have been unable to field the same backline in consecutive weeks this season and Beale said he felt some consistency in that area would be key to improving.


“I feel like I’m doing everything I am to do my best for the team, especially to perform my role,” he said.

“I’ve got a really good understanding on how that is set out to be but I think more so, we’ve got to look at the team, making sure that the combinations are right and we’re building on those combinations so that we start to get used each other.

“It’s obviously the start of the season, so hence why I was saying that disruption is really not allowing us to get that momentum and that flow on effect that we’ve had in previous years.

“Once we start to gel and string a couple of games together, I have every confidence in myself and the guys around me to make sure that we’re putting ourselves in the best positions to win the games.”

Beale has been switched between inside centre and fullback as the Waratahs try to accommodate the utility , Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt into the same backline.

Hunt's form has forced the reshuffle and though Beale said he would ideally be wearing the no. 12, having a chance to build combinations was more important.

“Yeah. I’d really enjoy that (playing 12). I think it’s my strength,” he said.

“But if K is back, he’d add a lot to that position and I think we went really well (against) the Reds.

“It was our first time playing in that combination. I think the more time that we give no matter the combinations, where I am, where K is, where Izzy (Folau)  is, the more games we string together the easier it will become and we’ll get a better awareness of how we fit and add to the team at the right times in the game.”

Looking beyond Super Rugby, Beale said there was already signs of change within the Wallabies program after their first in-season camp.

Beale was part of the Sydney camp last week, the first since Stephen Larkham finished as attack coach and head of athletic performance Haydn Masters resigned.

Incoming director of rugby Scott Johnson is yet to officially start with Rugby Australia after Scotland's Six Nations campaign wrapped up on the weekend but Beale said there was already signs of change.

“I’ve had a little bit to do with Scotty, he’s a great rugby brain to add to the coaching staff along with the staff we have already,’ he said.

“It’s exciting, we had a camp here the other day, there’s some new systems that will be put in place, a huge focus on our physical prep at the moment, certain targets that need to be matched.

“For me that’s been a bit of an eye-opening, fresh thing for me to add this year. I think that’s the influence Scott’s already bringing, which will help the lads.”

The Waratahs take on the Crusaders on Saturday night at the SCG, kicking off at 7:45pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.

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