Foley, Beale stake Wallabies claims

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WITH Quade Cooper gone and Kurtley Beale scoring inside 25 minutes on Sunday, Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie could have thought two things.

It was either problem solved, or problem doubled.

The likely absence of Cooper for the June Test series — MRI scans are on Monday expected to reveal a six-to-eight-week A/C joint injury — gave Beale the stage to audition as understudy, and in tearing up the Lions, the NSW No. 12 delivered.

But, as has been the case all season, it was a two-man show.

Right alongside him NSW no. 10 Bernard Foley turned a timely Wallaby trial himself, unfurling a man-of-the-match, 21-point performance to steer the Waratahs to a dominant win over the Lions at Allianz Stadium.

It was a telling victory for the Waratahs; arguably as important as any of the season. Where expansive play beat a like-minded Hurricanes last start, this time the same attitude overcame

a muscular Lions side whose scrum and defence has overcome good teams this year.

Bernard Foley turned in a man-of-the-match performance for the Waratahs. Source: Getty Images

At the heart of the NSW attack was Beale and Foley, and it would have been well received by McKenzie less than 24 hours after his Wallabies playmaking picture was thrown into disarray.

McKenzie, who names a 32-man Wallabies squad on Thursday, was set to show loyalty to Cooper for his No. 10 jersey, with burly Brumbies five-eighth Matt Toomua shifted out to No. 12.

The now-likely selection of Toomua at No. 10 in gold opened the door for Christian Lealiifano, Kyle Godwin, Pat McCabe or Beale to emerge grab the no. 12.

But with the Brumbies pair stumbling in a loss to the Cheetahs early Sunday morning (AEST), and Godwin — who some still strongly tip as a bolter — injured for the Force's loss to the Stormers, the door was open for Beale.

He skipped through it, being held up in the opening minutes, scoring a try in the 24th and laid on a with a brilliantly weighted kick to space for Adam Ashley Cooper's try.

Kurtley Beale played a starring role in the Waratahs' win over the Lions. Source: News Corp Australia

The problem for Beale came in the guy alongside him, who scored a try and used deft touch with the boot to give Beale his five-pointer.

Foley is arguably the best Australian ballplayer taking the ball to the line, and as importantly, using smarts when there. He slipped past a hooker to cross in the eighth minute, but then curled a stab grubber through on almost the same spot for Beale to score 16 minutes later.

It opened up the idea of Foley — who McKenzie capped four times last year — becoming a Wallaby No. 10 option for the coach, particularly when considering his seven from seven goalkicking effort might solve a problem at Test level as well.

The question was put to Waratahs coach Michael Cheika — could Foley, or even Beale, be considered as the replacement five-eighth for Cooper?

"I'd think they would pick Matt Toomua (at No. 10) wouldn't they? I'd say they would," Cheika said.

"I think both Bernard and Kurtley can do the job if necessary."

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Perhaps indicating he regarded Beale as a more natural No. 10, however, than centre Cheika said he appreciated the "sacrifice" he'd made by shifting spots for the Waratahs under their two-playmaker model.

"Kurtley has made a major sacrifice because he's playing for us where we want him to play, and it's probably hindering his chances to play (in the Wallaby No. 10), but I respect that in a player and a person," Cheika said.

When it comes to Test selection, however, the biggest hurdle Beale has to overcome is not due to NSW's attacking structure, but their defensive set-up.

Beale defends on the wing for the Waratahs, who have the strong-tackling Rob Horne able to move in. It is unlikely McKenzie would want to replicate it, so it would've encouraged the coach to see Beale defending at No. 12 and making good tackles for the last 15 minutes.

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Other Waratahs stepped on stage for McKenzie as well in their final audition before the Thursday squad.

Will Skelton would seem a moral to make the cut, with another robust display.

Horne reminded his old NSW coach just how much grit he carries into contact with a two-try effort, and Ashley-Cooper opened up the consideration for a return to the gold No. 13 ahead of Tevita Kuridrani with an industrious afternoon.

A freed-up wing spot could see a bolter like Rebels winger Tom English get a deserved nod.

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