Wallabies coach Michael Cheika sees his role in Kurtley Beale’s comeback as rugby coach not social worker, saying it’s up to the controversial playmaker to make the most of his latest career lifeline.
Beale is set to return to Test rugby for the first time since the text message scandal that rocked Australian rugby after being included on the bench for Saturday’s (Sunday morning AEDT) clash with Ireland in Dublin.
Cheika expects a “battle royale” with Europe’s top-ranked team in Australia’s penultimate match of the spring tour and insists last week’s decision to recall Beale has not been a distraction.
The Waratahs coach has brought the best out of Beale – who has a history of off-field indiscretions – in Super Rugby but says there won’t be any special treatment at international level.
“When he came to the Waratahs, I never claimed that I was going to be his social worker,” Cheika said on Thursday.
“I’m just a rugby coach so it’s about honesty, straightforwardness, directness and putting out an exact picture of what’s required and what’s not needed.
“I’ve found that works to get the best out of him.”
Beale was fined $45,000 for sending a lewd picture message to former ARU staff member Di Patston, with the scandal ultimately leading to the resignation of former coach Ewen McKenzie.
“I know that in the time he was with us in the Waratahs he was impeccable but there’s still no excuse for what happened (with Patston). It was inappropriate,” Cheika said.
“But he’s got himself back. He’s be through the process, got himself back on track and fit and he’s over here to play.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to help him regain a bit of support for the right reasons and not be maligned for the wrong ones.”
Cheika has had plenty more than Beale’s return on his plate this week as Australia look to rebound from the first defeat of his tenure, a 29-26 loss to France in Paris last week.
The Wallabies are hoping to avoid back-to-back spring tour defeats for the first time since 2005, while Cheika faces a delicate balancing act in the remaining matches against Ireland and England between results and getting the side to come to grips with a new style.
“It’s very obvious there’s going to be a learning (period) because we’ve changed so much but at the end of the day I want the results to speak,” he said.
Cheika signalled before the defeat to France he would give opportunities this week to the likes of centre Matt Toomua, rising back-rower Luke Jones and Fijian-born Henry Speight, who will make his Test debut on the wing.
But the coach, who spent five years with Irish club Leinster, does not feel he’s weakened his team for a clash with an in-form Ireland outfit that beat South Africa a fortnight ago.
“It’s going to be a battle royale, really,” he said.
“They (Ireland) have already taken a southern hemisphere scalp and they’ll be very much looking for a second.”
AUSTRALIA vs IRELAND
Test match, Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Saturday, November 22, 4.30pm (0330 AEDT Sunday)
Head to head: Australia 21, Ireland 9, drawn 1
Last meeting: Australia bt Ireland 32-15, Dublin, November 2013
Odds: Ireland $1.72, Australia $2.10
Teams:-
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Henry Speight, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Luke Jones, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper. Res: James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Benn Robinson, Will Skelton, Jake Schatz, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale.
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Robbie Henshaw, Gordon D’Arcy, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip, Rhys Ruddock, Peter O’Mahony; Paul O’Connell (capt), Devin Toner; Mike Ross, Rory Best, Jack McGrath. Res: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Rodney Ah You, Dave Foley, Tommy O’Donnell, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Felix Jones.
