Wallabies star Kurtley Beale one of two players to secure a quarter-final berth in RugbyPass FIFA Pros tournament
The opening round of the RugbyPass FIFA Pros southern hemisphere charity tournament continued on Wednesday with a second successive double-header featuring Kurtley Beale, Angus Ta’avao, Shaun Stevenson and Jackson Garden-Bachop.
Tuesday’s matches saw Hurricanes flyer Wes Goosen and Crusaders starlet Will Jordan book their spots in the quarter-finals of the tournament, and the duo will be joined by Beale and Stevenson following two impressive displays of FIFA.
Matched up against Chiefs and All Blacks prop Ta’avao, Beale enjoyed a 2-0 victory over his former Waratahs teammate, with both players opting to play with French giants PSG.
A friendly exchange between the two managers resulted in little action of note for the majority of the first half, although an attack from either side towards the end of the half showed signs of promise going into the sheds.
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Leading the stat sheet by 10 shots to one at the break, Beale managed to capitalise on his domination in the 57th minute when a mistimed tackle allowed star wing Kylian Mbappe to waltz into the opposition’s penalty area and send the ball into the top-right corner of the goal.
Despite a flurry of desperate attempts from Ta’avao as the clock wound down, the Wallabies veteran sealed the deal three minutes into injury time when Mbappe doubled his tally through a simple tap in following a Mauro Icardi-inspired counter-attack from inside his own half.
He’ll be joined in the final eight by Chiefs speedster Shaun Stevenson, who made light work of Hurricanes pivot Jackson Garden-Bachop in a dominant 3-0 win.
Playing with reigning European champions Liverpool, Stevenson got off to a rapid start when English midfielder Jordan Henderson took advantage of a defensive error from a Manchester City defender to score from close range in the fourth minute.
That lead could have been multiplied many times over given the number of scoring chances Stevenson generated throughout the first half, and the 23-year-old was eventually rewarded when Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino snatched a goal on the stroke of half-time from 12 yards out.
A third goal scored by Firmino from a flowing counter-attack move in the 63rd minute all but quashed Garden-Bachop’s hopes of progressing into the quarter-finals, as Stevenson and Beale await the results of the remaining fixtures this week.
The first round of action continues tomorrow when Highlanders and All Blacks star Aaron Smith takes on Blues and USA Eagles flanker Tony Lamborn in one of two fixtures.
The day’s other clash will see Chiefs midfielder Alex Nankivell challenge Ricoh Black Rams and former All Blacks loose forward Elliot Dixon.
RugbyPass FIFA Pros Southern Hemisphere Opening Round Draw
Thursday:
Aaron Smith (Highlanders) vs Tony Lamborn (Blues)
Alex Nankivell (Chiefs) vs Elliot Dixon (Ricoh Black Rams)
Friday:
Bryn Hall (Crusaders) vs Pete Samu (Brumbies)
Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes) vs Josh Ioane (Highlanders)
Qualified for Quarter-Finals:
Wes Goosen (Hurricanes)
Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs)
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
3 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
3 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments