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http://www.news.com.au/sundaymail/st...-10389,00.html
TEENAGE sensation Kurtley Beale or former Test veteran Matt Burke could be summoned as the Wallabies face a five-eighth crisis.
Coach John Connolly revealed last night a widespread net will be cast for an additional No.10 if a vacancy in the squad is created by the likely loss of flanker Hugh McMeniman.
A decision on whether the Queensland forward remains on tour will be made soon as medical staff monitor his progress from a spinal cord concussion in the loss to Ospreys on Thursday.
If McMeniman is ruled out for the European campaign, Connolly will replace him with an extra five-eighth to play in the remaining midweek matches against Ireland A and Scotland A.
Mark Gerrard filled the role against Ospreys but struggled in the playmaking hot seat, convincing Connolly to abandon plans to continue with the experiment.
His other five-eighth options – Mat Rogers, Matt Giteau and Stephen Larkham – are Test starting members while utility back Gene Fairbanks struggled so badly at inside centre in the tour opener he will be lucky to play again.
Connolly said selectors could consider home-based five-eighth contenders in schoolboys star Beale – who has trained with the Wallabies this year and will be in the running for a starting role with the NSW Waratahs in Super 14 next season – Daniel Halangahu from the Waratahs or the Western Force's James Hilgendorf.
He also flagged the prospect of breaking new ground, going against Australian Rugby Union policy, and drafting an Australian playing overseas.
Burke is with Newcastle in the English premiership, former two-Test Wallaby Manny Edmonds plays for Perpignan in France and former Sydney University pivot Chris Malone is based at Bath.
"At the moment it is an issue, finding a replacement at No.10," he said. "We are looking for someone to play the two A games coming up. But Lachlan MacKay, Sam Norton-Knight and Berrick Barnes are all injured back home and unavailable.
Beale – who wraps up his Higher School Certificate exams on Wednesday – was touted earlier this year as a Wallaby tour bolter.
But the frontrunners, if the ARU approves and their clubs agree, would be Edmonds and Burke