Wallabies full-back Kurtley Beale has praised attack coach Shaun Berne following the team’s victory over the All Blacks in Perth on Saturday.
The Wallabies registered their record points tally against the All Blacks during the 47-26 win and Beale believes that Berne’s approach to running rugby has brought out the best in the squad.
“Shaun has been great for us in the backline and for the whole side in attack. He has brought a new edge to the game, a different approach, which is always refreshing. He’s allowing the guys to go out there and be themselves and providing a structure that allows us to do that. He has brought different dynamics to how we want to play the game,” he said.
Berne took over the role earlier this year
following the dismissal of former coach Stephen Larkham, who has since gone on
to take up a job with Munster.
As well as Berne’s arrival there has been a
return to the international stage for players such as Christian Leali’ifano and
James O’Connor, who both starred on Saturday. Beale believes that they have
added a new dimension to the team.
“They are two players with a lot of unpredictability about their game and they certainly brought that at the weekend. It’s great to have players with that type of ammunition. Creativity is very important at Test match level,” he added.
Beale finished up by praising O’Connor and
thinks that his presence has brought a coolness to the team which also adds to
his ability of being a match-winner at any point.
“The thing I felt out there was just his calmness. His ability to strike at any given second is pretty impressive as well so his time away brought that level of calmness about him, and that definitely rubs off on the other guys around him,” he ended.
Beale and co will be hoping that Berne’s
new style will work once more as they face the All Blacks for the second of
their two Bledisloe Cup games this weekend with the Wallabies looking to claim
the Cup and continue building toward the World Cup.
