No Rebels scores to settle for Beale
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Waratahs star Kurtley Beale admits he has extra motivation for the game against the Rebels on Friday – the team that got rid of him last year.
While Beale says his rematch against his old side does mean more to him than a regular Super Rugby match, he vowed not to get caught up in settling scores with the Rebels.
The 39-cap Wallaby says he's moved on from being released by the Rebels, and expects his former teammates have done the same.
But the 25-year-old, who was sacked for his negative effect on club culture, concedes there is some extra fire in his belly, but he can't afford to be distracted from his task at inside centre by personal history.
"I don't want to put too much emphasis on it, Beale told AAP.
"I think it's obviously there lingering but I've got to play my role within the team.
"It's an important role and I don't want to make it too complex for myself and put too much pressure on myself.
"I think we're all humans and we're all old enough to move on and get on with life. I certainly have."
The Waratahs and Beale were ambushed by the Brumbies rush-defence tactics last Saturday in their 23-28 defeat, and the Rebels are taking some lessons out of the Canberra side's successful game plan, especially in regards to shutting down Waratahs superstar fullback Israel Folau.
Beale said the Waratahs were caught by surprise against the Brumbies, but wouldn't let the same happen again, and have vowed to stick to their attacking mindset.
"Footwork will be the key. If they want to rush hard, laterally they'll be pretty weak.
"We've got an identity as a backline we want to display. We don't want defences to dictate the way we play," Beale added.
Coming off their own loss 19-25 to the Crusaders, the Rebels will face a bitterly disappointed Waratahs outfit but have done their homework on how the Brumbies shut down Folau.
Rebels inside centre Mitchell Inman, who will win his 50th Super rugby cap in the match, said his side also needed to limit Folau's involvement as much as possible.
They had a warm-up in their defeat at the hands of the Crusaders, keeping All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg quiet.
"You definitely can't kick any high balls to him and you want to get the ball away from him because he can do some marvellous things with the footy," said Inman.
"He's pretty impressive with the ball in hand so we will try and limit the amount of ball he gets although that's hard to do."
The Rebels are well aware of Beale's attacking presence as well.
"He's been very effective there.
"They put some points on Queensland and the Western Force and were unlucky not to get away with the win against the Brumbies.
"Attacking wise they're very good and they love the front foot football," Inman added.
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