Wallabies suffer blow as Beale fails to make it

The 22-year-old aggravated a hamstring injury in the quarter-final victory over South Africa last weekend but was named in the team on Friday on the proviso that he could prove his fitness yesterday morning.

Beale, one of Australia’s most potent attacking threats, failed to appear for the team photo at the Captain’s Run session at North Harbour Stadium yesterday, however, and the team spokesman later confirmed he would not play. Adam Ashley-Cooper will move from centre to play his 20th Test at full-back with big-tackling Anthony Faingaa coming into partner Pat McCabe in midfield and Rob Horne taking a place among the replacements.

“It’s disappointing but is an outcome we’d catered for through our preparation this week,” coach Robbie Deans said. “We always anticipated it would be unlikely that Kurtley would be ready, but we wanted to give him every opportunity to make it. Unfortunately time has run out.”

Beale, who won this year’s John Eales Medal as the outstanding Australia rugby player of the season, said he backed his team mates to reach the final even without him.

“It’s going to be tough watching it from the sidelines, I can’t deny that, but it’s about the team, not me,” Beale said. “The medical staff have done a great job, but it’s best for the team that I miss this one.”