Wallabies wait on Beale
Australia will wait until the last possible moment to decide on whether star fullback Kurtley Beale is fit to play in Sunday’s World Cup semifinal against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.
Beale, one of the Wallabies’ most potent attackers, has been struggling with a hamstring injury and although included in the Australia team announced Friday was bracketed alongside utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper at No.15.
Cooper was similarly paired with Anthony Fainga’a in the centres.
Fainga’a will slot into midfield should Beale ultimately be ruled out and Cooper start at fullback.
“We will leave it as long as we can before making a decision,” Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said Friday.
“It will be tough on Kurtley if he has to miss this one, but we will take no chances.
“If he can’t play, he will contribute off the field as he always does. Adam and Ant are both good men. They will do a more than capable job in Kurtley’s absence.”
Beale has twice left the field with the same hamstring strain during this tournament, going off 38 minutes into a pool match against the United States.
He was then rested from the final pool match against Russia before returning in the 11-9 quarterfinal win over defending champions South Africa only to leave the field six minutes from the finish of last Sunday’s gruelling match in Wellington.
Scans in Auckland subsequently confirmed a small strain and the Wallabies medical staff have since been working overtime to get Beale fit.
Inside centre Pat McCabe, who has been troubled by an injured shoulder, has recovered this week without any problems.
While the starting forward pack remains the same that played South Africa last week, with prop Sekope Kepu fit following a rolled ankle, there was a change on the replacements bench.
Reds lock Rob Simmons has replaced Nathan Sharpe among the reserves.
Sharpe is on 99 Tests and was hoping to win his 100th cap this weekend.
Australia, who beat New Zealand in the semifinals of both the 1991 and 2003 World Cups, have not won a Test at Eden Park since 1986.
But former All Black Deans said: “The circumstances this weekend are unique.
“It’s a tough place to play, and those are impressive numbers for sure, but they don’t matter once Sunday night’s match kicks off.
“World Cup elimination matches are stand alone contests. The pressure is divided equally on both sides as there is no tomorrow.”
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale/Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper/Anthony Fainga’a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Fainga’a/Rob Horne.
Date: Sunday, October 16
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 21.00 (08.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens, Romain Poite
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
