Rebel bound Kurtley Beale has expressed his disappointment over his performance in Blues match
Waratahs fly half, Kurtley Beale, has expressed his disappointment with his own performance in their match against the Blues. Blues won the quarter-finals as they hosted the Waratahs for the first play-off game of the 2011 Super Rugby competition.
The injury struck Waratahs were without several of their first choice players and they added to that tactical mistakes on the field to concede the game to the Blues, 26 – 13. Beale was moved from the fullback position to the fly half position after an injury
to Waratahs first choice fly half Daniel Halangahu. Halangahu suffered from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of Friday’s all-important clash.
The quarter-final match was Beale’s last game for the Waratahs, as he will join the Super Rugby new entrants Melbourne Rebels in the start of next season.
Beale has admitted his frustration on not being able to control and develop the game in the midfield that allowed the Blues to capitalise and score some easy points. He said, “I was pretty disappointed I didn't step up to that expectation, trying to lead
the boys around, hopefully later in my career I can look upon that and develop my game into a better game.”
Beale further added, “I've learned a lot, dealing with different situations on the field. Tonight I'm disappointed with my game - I should have controlled it a little bit more.”
Beale admitted that the game was a good learning experience for him. He added that the extensive pre-match media coverage and hype had pressured him and forced him to stray from his natural game. Beale admitted to pre-match nerves after expansive media coverage
ahead of the Super Rugby do or die match. He said, “I saw my face in the paper and it kind of got to me a bit.”
However, Waratahs outgoing captain, Phil Waugh, has backed his team’s midfielders and praised the efforts of the Blues duo of Stephen Brett and Luke McAllister.
Waratahs head coach Chris Hickey has rubbished Beale’s claims that he played poorly. He said, “Kurtley is a strike player and one of the great things about his game is his confidence to have a crack. I thought Kurtley did fine, Players like that, while sometimes
it comes off sometimes it does not. The last thing you want them to do is stop trying and go into their shells.”
Beale is a Wallabies 2011 Rugby World Cup probable and he has expressed his desire to return to the All Blacks later this year to take part in rugby’s largest event.
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