News

Waratahs back wobbly Beale

May 20 2008

Teenage Waratahs playmaker Kurtley Beale will enter his maiden Super 14 semi-final under immense pressure with serious question marks over his right boot and defensive abilities.

Reds coach Phil Mooney shone the spotlight brighter on Beale's tackling after the fly-half had a night to forget with his goal-kicking in the gritty 18-11 win over the Reds that secured the Waratahs a place in the last four.

The 19-year-old kicked three from seven but just one from five in a nervous first half effort which included two 32 metre misses from in front in the opening 12 minutes.

Beale's success-rate for the season has dropped to 60 per cent which is a worrying statistic entering a sudden-death semi-final against the Sharks in Sydney this Saturday.

Fortunately for the Waratahs, their staunch defence ensured the poor misses weren't too costly.

The Reds rallied to 12-6 before giving Beale two more chances to atone. His successful 63rd and 67th minute penalties for an 18-6 lead convinced coach Ewen McKenzie and skipper Phil Waugh he ought to retain the kicking duties.

"I'm not worried, he's done a good job for us this year and he's just learning the caper," McKenzie told AAP.

"He puts a lot of time and effort into goal-kicking and he's trying to get better and better.

"He's won us games during the year off his boot and he kicked the ones that mattered [against the Reds]."

Beale's wobbly opening was a far cry from his sideline conversion in the wet to steal a draw with the Stormers the week before in Cape Town.

The Reds made no bones about their desire to target his defence but failed to get the quality set-piece ball to follow through.

"He was effective playing behind that pack, he got the ball pretty much on the front foot most of the time," said Mooney.

"But in terms of his defence I don't even think the Waratahs would stand here and say he's a damaging defender."

Asked whether Beale may struggle against a team gaining parity up front, Mooney said it was a "pretty fair observation."

But Waugh was quick to come to Beale's defence.

"I thought KB did magnificently out there," the captain said.

"He stood up and stood up really well and I'm very proud of Kurtley and the way he is going. He is growing and growing every day."

Beale will go head-to-head with talented Springbok Ryan Pienaar who has moved from number nine to pivot for the Sharks following a season-ending injury to Frederic Michalak.