Michael Cheika urges Kurtley Beale to cut Wasps spell short
Tuesday 7 March 2017 17:13, UK
Australia head coach Michael Cheika has promised Kurtley Beale a more senior role with the Wallabies if he decides to leave Wasps at the end of the season.
Beale, who signed a lucrative one-year deal with Wasps last year, has the option to return to Australia and is yet to decide on his playing future.
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young said at the weekend the club are hoping Beale - who scored two tries in Saturday's 24-3 Aviva Premiership win at Bath - will make a decision on his future this week.
And Cheika has used this as an opportunity to publically outline to Beale the increased role that awaits him with the Wallabies should he elect to return home.
"Beale before wasn't starting, he was hole-fixing, but I think it will be different for him this time, because I've got a clear vision of what I want him to do in the team," Cheika told the Australian media.
"I know it's only been a year but in that year, there's been a big change in the Wallabies squad as well.
"He'll come back with a slightly different stature I'd say, and I want him to play according to that."
A serious knee injury wiped out Beale's international season last year and he played the last of his 60 tests in the 2015 World Cup final defeat to New Zealand.
Cheika had Beale playing off the bench during the tournament behind starting inside centre Matt Giteau.
It proved an effective gambit, but Beale complained about his back-up role before his departure overseas.
But the landscape in the Australia camp has shifted dramatically since the World Cup and France-based Giteau, now 34, is unlikely to be a part of Cheika's plans as he builds towards the 2019 tournament in Japan.
With Beale, Giteau and Matt Toomua all injured last year, Reece Hodge was handed the No 12 shirt.
Cheika was impressed with how the Melbourne Rebel performed in his debut season with the Wallabies, but he admits it is an area where he would like more competition.
"I think Reece has done wonderfully well," Cheika said. "If we are going to do well at international level, we need two if not three players fighting for each position."
