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Ella: Beale ready for Wallabies
By Jon Geddes Ella: Beale ready for Wallabies | The Daily Telegraph
April 10, 2008 12:00am
THE rugby legend who discovered Kurtley Beale as a 14-year-old schoolboy has declared Beale is ready to play Test football this year.
Former Wallaby Glen Ella spoke out in the countdown to the most anticipated head-to-head clash in Super 14 this season involving Matt Giteau and whiz-kid Beale.
The pair square off in the Australian derby between the Waratahs and Western Force at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.
"It's a big test for Kurtley because obviously he's going to get measured against the guy standing in his way for a Wallaby position," Ella said.
"Matt has probably been the form five-eighth in the whole Super 14 tournament.
"Kurtley's got to prove he can play there and maybe force the hand of the selectors to put Giteau at inside centre. And we still need a very good No. 12."
He also believes a Beale-Giteau combination has the potential to create havoc on the international scene.
While Beale may still be only be 19, Ella says he can now step up to the demands of Test football.
"He's played most of last year, he's played a full Super 14 season this year, he's not going to be any more ready than that," he said.
Ella has been a mentor to Beale since he first spotted the rugby protege playing for St Joseph's.
"Once I saw him play I used to say to Ewen McKenzie and Eddie Jones, 'Don't worry when Steve Larkham retires, there is a kid from Joeys who will take over'," Ella recalled.
And for five years he has seen the skinny Mt Druitt youngster develop into a genuine Test candidate.
"I just hope he doesn't put too much pressure on himself to do too much.
"The good thing about Kurtley is he is not a big head. He doesn't go out thinking, 'I am Kurtley Beale look out for me'. He knows that every game is a test.
"He is a very mature 19-year-old. He is now comfortable in his role, he understands all the pressure that has been put on him and handles that very well."
Respected judges such as Ella, Michael O'Connor and Rod Kafer have all been impressed by how much Beale has kicked on in his second Super 14 season.
"The improvement in him this year compared with last year has been quite significant," said dual international O'Connor, who heads the talent identification program for the ARU.
"I have no doubt Kurtley will be a Test player. He's starting to refine areas of his game like his kicking and his goalkicking - he's shown he can knuckle down."
Former Wallaby and rugby analyst Kafer says Beale has always shown an aptitude to be able to handle the next level.
"He has the skills, the big question would be whether he has the composure and maturity to run a game at Test level, which you have to do at flyhalf," Kafer said.
"And that is something that probably only comes with experience and time."
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