Veteran Fullback Kurtley Beale Poised for Wallabies Comeback
Rugby legend Mils Muliaina has thrown his weight behind Kurtley Beale’s potential return to the Wallabies squad, hailing the experienced fullback as a “fantastic” mentor for the young players under head coach Joe Schmidt.
Beale, a 95-Test veteran, has revived his career in Perth after being cleared of serious court charges earlier this year. His standout performances for the Western Force have not gone unnoticed, with Muliaina, a World Cup winner and centurion for the All Blacks, believing Beale deserves a recall to the national team setup.
“He’s fantastic,” Muliaina said via Wide World of Sports. “What he’s done is actually brought a little bit of that flair and understanding of ‘hey, we’ve got to have a go here.'”
The veteran fullback has forged an impressive partnership with Force and Wallabies fly-half Ben Donaldson, a dynamic that Muliaina believes has been crucial to the team’s improved morale and on-field decision-making.
“What we have noticed is the real maturity about that backline and perhaps that’s Donaldson as well, having Kurtley’s influence there, but the morale of the group as well,” Muliaina commented.
Despite fierce competition for spots in the Wallabies squad, Muliaina believes Beale’s experience and leadership qualities make him a valuable asset that coach Schmidt should consider.
“Higher honours? Absolutely. I know there’s a lot of guys in competition but why wouldn’t you have Kurtley in the Wallabies squad? Someone of his experience to bring these guys through and nurture them.”
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