WORLD CUP-winning coach Bob Dwyer thinks Kurtley Beale is an outstanding player — just not the right man to play fly half for the struggling Wallabies.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has experimented with the Wallabies backline during the Rugby Championship, making the surprise call to drop Bernard Foley to the bench and trial Beale and Matt Toomua as his new look 10-12 combination.
The return has been a win against South Africa and a loss to Argentina and Dwyer is not convinced it is the right playmaking axis.
Speaking on the Fox Rugby Podcast, Dwyer said 29-year-old Beale looked “flustered” while wearing the more unfamiliar No 10 jersey and was struggling to cope with the pressure of being the team’s chief play caller.
“I personally would never have made Kurtley No 10, even though I think he’s an outstanding player,” Dwyer said.
“We need to get his mind cleared and say: Kurtley, when you get the ball, run or pass or kick — don’t worry about anything else.”
Dwyer cited Wallabies legend Mark Ella and current All Blacks superstar Beauden Barrett as ideal five-eighths due to their ability to get ‘second touches’ around the field.
The 77-year-old former coach also emphasised the importance of a fly half not overplaying his hand and said Beale’s teammates were struggling to adapt to his style.
“Everything crowds across the field and nobody can come onto the ball because they’re frightened of running into you,” Dwyer said.
“Then in support, you have to run backwards to get around the player.
“His tackling has improved out of sight… but I definitely wouldn’t play him there (at No 10).”
Dwyer, who coached the Wallabies to World Cup glory in 1991, said that while 62 Test veteran Foley had his flaws, he was still a better option to NSW teammate Beale as a No 10.
“I’ve never thought Bernard Foley was the genius fly half that we might want, but I’ve always thought he’s been pretty good, so I would probably put him there,” Dwyer said.
Australia is last on the Rugby Championship ladder and are in danger of picking up their first wooden spoon since 2009.
The Wallabies will meet the Springboks in Port Elizabeth on Sunday (1.05am AEST) with Cheika set to name his team late on Thursday.
by Foxsports.com.au
I actually think Beale's defence has been patchy. He has made some great reads and snuffed out a few deadly situations, but other times he has been completely blown away or bamboozled. Something we never really exploited in Brisbane. On attack he has an annoying habit of drifting away from the pass, making it hard for anyone to actually give him the ball. We've already seen that result in loose balls bobbling around, ending attacking sequences. I don't rate him at all.
