McKenzie eyes Beale to crack mighty All Blacks

Coach Ewen McKenzie knows Australia must take risks if they are to end New Zealand’s 17-game winning streak on Saturday, and hopes the surprise selection of Kurtley Beale at fly-half will provide the spark in their Rugby Championship clash in Sydney.

McKenzie opted for the mercurial Beale in the pivotal fly-half role instead of the more solid Bernard Foley on the basis of Beale’s form towards the end of the Super Rugby competition and his test experience in the position.

Beale had played the entire Super Rugby season at inside centre for the champions New South Wales Waratahs and appeared to have found his most effective position in the backline after tests at full-back, wing and fly-half. Foley impressed at fly-half for the Wallabies against France in June but McKenzie said the All Blacks represented a different test.