WAYWARD BACK Kurtley Beale left Australia to join up with his Wallaby teammates in Europe on Saturday, saying he wants to redeem himself after fearing his international career was over.
Beale received a call-up to join the Wallabies for the last two matches of their northern hemisphere tour after being left out of the touring party for disciplinary breaches.
Beale has not played for Australia since the Wallabies’ loss in Cape Town against South Africa on September 27.
On the ensuing flight to Argentina to play the Pumas Beale had an argument with then Wallabies business manager Di Patston, which quickly descended into a major scandal engulfing the Australian Rugby Union and leading to the resignations of Patston and Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie.
Beale was fined a total of Aus$48,000 ($41,700) for sending an offensive text message to Patston and sanctioned again later for being rude and disrespectful to Wallaby team management on the flight.
Beale 25, admitted he feared his Wallaby career might have been over following the latest saga in his off-field troubles.
He has endured multiple suspensions and been forced to undergo counselling and rehabilitation for alcohol-related issues.
“There was some dark days and obviously that did cross my mind,” Beale told reporters at Sydney Airport ahead of joining the Wallabies, who play France in Paris later Saturday.
“But I think throughout the whole process, there’s been a lot of belief and faith shown in me and that’s definitely helped me go through it all and I’m very thankful for that.”
He said there was an element of redemption about his belated call-up to the squad.
“If you get the opportunity, obviously you always want to go out there and prove not only to everyone out there, but yourself, you can bounce back from what I’ve been through,” he said.
“Definitely, I feel like I have to show the Australian public what I can do out there and, if I can, show that through some good performances and, hopefully, I can repay that faith.”
While he hasn’t played since September, Beale said he had been training hard with the NSW Waratahs for the past three weeks and was confident he would be match-fit if called upon for next week’s Test against Ireland in Dublin.
cork needed the win more …limerick competed …both sides will be happy at this stage in the year .
Dont know where ye got the stat that limerick were looking to secure their 5th victory on the bounce over cork. Their last 2 meetings were draws
@domas1507: Getting bate after extra time doesn’t count no?
@Padraig McElligott: actually no. The game us officially recorded as a draw if its level at full time. The extra time is to decide who goes forward but the game is officially a draw
@domas1507: Limerick beat Cork on the day officially or otherwise. The last two meetings between the two sides before today – one draw and one Limerick victory. You don’t draw your way into an All Ireland Final.
@Padraig McElligott: we all know ye won so congratulations again and again and again
@Padraig McElligott: So they weren’t going for their 5th victory on the bounce. Thanks for clearing that up.
Should have been thr result in last year’s semi-final…
@Forfar So Good: Hmmm juicy lemons….
@Colm O’Sullivan: Thought i might get someone to bite:-)
@Forfar So Good: aaaaw
Cork deserved the win. They have found a centre back in Tim O’Mahony. He was my man of the match. Limerick could never get into their stride like in previous weeks, and when they did they gifted Cork their second goal. The two new boys, Dooley for Cork and O’Brien for Limerick both performed well. It’s the kickstart that Cork needed and a kick up the backside that Limerick will eventually welcome.
@Colm O’Sullivan: thats probably the best thing said about the game. Fair play
Unbelievable win for Cork against the greatest team to ever play the game and shoe ins for the all Ireland.
Hopefully results like this will help the game develop in developing hurling counties like Cork etc
@damien o brien: :-))))))
@damien o brien: lol
@damien o brien: such unwarranted bitterness and condescension. Well done Cork the better team won today.
There will be absolutely nothing in it if these teams were to meet in the championship.
Will do Limerick no harm at all to taste defeat
@Alan Fitzgerald: Ah jaysus Alan go out and get a bit of air I’d say..
That limerick fella isn’t saying much now!!!!
Great win for Cork, who could have had a few more goals. Held on when it looked for all the money Limerick were going to go through them.
That’s a great result for Cork, winning away to the All-Ireland champions.
Sluggish display from Limerick, did well to draw it back level but missed chances proved costly in the end.
On to Ennis next week now.
So we have a championship after all !! This time last week they were handing Liam to Limerick ….
@David O’Neill: Not really. Prior to Limerick beating Kilkenny and to a lesser degree Tipp, the media have spent pre season telling everyone how Limerick will struggle to get out of Munster let alone mount a title challenge again. Only when they beat Kilkenny did the media have to eat their words and back peddle somewhat to give this team some credit. Any Limerick fan will tell you that they’ll treat every game in Munster and on like a cup final, however we’re tired of being brandished nothing more than a team that “gives 100% commitment”, though plenty of that it’s high time they recognise the skill levels of our hurlers.
@No: Limerick are a serious team and as you say Munster is a minefield but how these journalists make predictions like that in February is beyond me !!! What i will say is 6 or 7 teams will feel they can win it this year !!
@No: You’re a bit over the top there. Nobody is brandishing Limerick like you say. Everyone recognises their skill levels. But they’re starting with a clean slate this year. They’ve a 60% chance of coming out of Munster. No more nor no less than the other 4 counties.
Should’ve been a draw. I don’t begrudge cork there win . But the ref gave limerick a free in 5 from the end …. he hadn’t seen the hand pass to Cian Lynch who was thundering down on the goals with only the keeper to beat ….and he knows he made a mistake (an should have played the advantage) because he wrapped both hands around his head!!
Big scalp for Cork hurlers today.
@Anyone But Cork: actually was cheers. Considering the last few results. Thanks for your support. ; )
Martin Brennan won’t know what to do with himself now tonight with that win!!
Cork needed that big time and that defeat could well be a blessing in disguise for Limerick considering the way they have been built up in the last couple of weeks. Limerick have proved they can win an All-Ireland and will be there or thereabouts again this year. Hopefully Cork improve from last year but still think we are a couple of players short.