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'I'm extremely keen': Kurtley Beale outlines World Cup ambitions as he eyes Wallabies comeback
Former Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale has outlined his ambition to return to the Australian national set-up under Dave Rennie as he eyes a place at the 2023 World Cup in France.
The 32-year-old utility back hasn’t featured for the Wallabies since their quarter-final exit at the hands of England at the 2019 World Cup, and has since departed Australia entirely to join powerhouse French club Racing 92.
That doesn’t mean the 92-test international has given up on his test career, though, as he revealed during an exclusive interview with The XV.
“I’m extremely keen,” Beale said of a potential return to the green and gold jersey and the prospect of playing at a fourth World Cup.
“I feel like I’ve got more to give to the game. I’m learning a lot more here in France from world-class players, I’ve got a really good understanding of different plays, I’m in a great position to keep improving as a player.”
Beale told The XV he is yet to hear from Rennie, who took over from previous head coach Michael Cheika following the failed World Cup campaign two years ago, but that hasn’t deterred him as he continues to impress in Europe.
“There hasn’t been any contact from Dave at this stage but my focus is just on playing really well consistently for Racing. Hopefully I’m noticed and I’m given an opportunity if I deserve it.
“And I’ve got to deserve it. Yes, I’ve had the honour of winning many caps for my country, but the jersey is not just given, you have got to earn it and a lot of young players are starting to prove themselves back home and many others are pushing really hard overseas.
“Competition is healthy for a team and I’ll be doing everything I can to earn another Wallaby jersey in the near future.”
Having met the 60-test threshold required of overseas-based Australian players intending to play for the Wallabies, Beale is primed to push for inclusion in Rennie’s squad from his new home in Paris.
Since joining Racing last year, Beale has dominated at the highest level of club rugby in Europe, leading the Champions Cup in carries (28), clean breaks (10) and metres made (246).
It’s that kind of form that could see him challenge the likes of Reece Hodge, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Tom Banks, Dane Haylett-Petty and Jack Maddocks for places in the Wallabies set-up at fullback and in the midfield.
"You’re perfect for a few games and then all of a sudden there’s criticism and you’re back down to the bottom. You just don’t feel like you’re good enough."@kurtley_beale speaks to @JLyall93 about his early career tribulations and serenity in Parishttps://t.co/vygc5vQsMc
— RugbyPass+ (@RugbyPassPlus) January 24, 2021
This isn’t the first time Beale has spoken of his desire to play at another World Cup since leaving Australia for France.
Speaking to Wallabies great David Campese on an Instagram podcast last June, the former Waratahs star maintained he “absolutely” harbours dreams to play at France 2023, regardless of what those who believe he’s past it think.
“You’d say a lot of people would think I’m a long way off, but … I’ve had the opportunity to be at three World Cups now; I’ve got a fair idea on what is required,” Beale said.
“You see in 2015 the impact Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau had when they came back. A lot of people [were] writing them off and [saying] the young guys should be coming through and given the opportunity, but if you want to win World Cups then you need experience, and in-form players that are coming back and are used to those big-pressure moments.
“So of course I’d love to be a part of it. I’d love to keep playing for the Wallabies forever. I’ll be doing everything I can moving forward, especially in this next chapter, to put my best foot forward to wear the Wallaby gold again.”
Beale joins ex-Wallabies loose forward Sean McMahon, who now plays in Japan for Suntory Sungoliath, as one of two Australian internationals based abroad to recently state their eagerness on playing at the next World Cup.
Although he isn’t eligible for Wallabies selection while in Japan with only 26 tests to his name, McMahon told RugbyPass last week that he “would love to go back to Australia and have another crack” at test rugby.
“It’s definitely something I see myself doing, and if that’s a chance to potentially go back before the World Cup and have a crack, I’d definitely keep that on the books for me, for sure.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
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