Rugby Championship
SA v Oz: Beale set for 10 role
2012-09-25 15:17
Cape Town - Kurtley Beale looks likely to start at flyhalf for the Wallabies in their Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks in Pretoria on Saturday, with Berrick Barnes at fullback.
According to the
Planet Rugby website, Beale impressed in training and is expected to be named as flyhalf when coach Robbie Deans names his team on Thursday.
The 23-year-old is expected to take the spot of injured Quade Cooper after the Reds playmaker was ruled out due to minor knee surgery, while Barnes is expected to continue at fullback.
Meanwhile, Wallabies media manager Matt McIlraith told
Reuters a gastrointestinal bug had affected the Australian camp, with lock and captain Nathan Sharpe, props James Slipper and Ben Alexander, lock Sitaleki Timani and loose forwards Liam Gill and Scott Higginbotham all being laid low. The bug was so ruthless that Timane has apparently lost 5kg in two days.
The Wallabies will also be without hooker Stephen Moore, who strained a hamstring. McIllraith said uncapped Reds hooker James Hanson was on his way to South Africa to cover for Moore.
The 29-year-old Moore will remain level with Jeremy Paul on 72 caps as Australia's most-capped hooker.
The clash at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 17:00 on Saturday.