'Past it' Kurtley Beale makes ex-All Black eat humble pie but Force no match for Blues at Eden Park
Updated . First published at
Ex-All Blacks hooker James Parsons ate a slice of humble pie after Kurtley Beale proved him wrong with an impressive Super Rugby Pacific comeback on Friday night.
Wallabies veteran Beale starred at fullback for the Western Force in his first game in 10 months after rupturing his Achilles tendon while playing for Randwick last year.
The 36-year-old considered retirement after that devastating injury but eventually decided to tackle the painstaking rehabilitation.
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match live and on demand
Kurtley Beale celebrates a try. Stan
Beale is dreaming of an unlikely Test return against the British and Irish Lions and Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt would not have missed his sharp display which was capped by a try in the left corner at Eden Park.
"Kurtley Beale, I'll put my hand up, I said he might have been past it," Parsons said on Stan Sport's coverage.
"But the way he's interacting with both wingers has been exceptional. He's definitely putting his hand up, he's done a good job... I'll happily eat humble pie tonight - he was sharp."
READ MORE: No charges despite allegations of a Maroons eye gouge
READ MORE: Cornes accuses North of 'running away' as Clarkson hits back
READ MORE: Tips: Gould's warning after 'dangerous' rivals axe $1m star
Fellow Wallabies contenders Carlo Tizzano and Harry Potter also continued their strong form but it was not enough against the defending champion Blues.
Beauden Barrett returned to the Blues No.10 jersey and orchestrated a 40-19 win that was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.
The result lifted the Blues above the Force into sixth place on the ladder and knocked the Perth club out of the playoff spots.
NEW PODCAST! Inside Line break down the appointment of Les Kiss as Wallabies coach following a handover from Joe Schmidt
Barrett's kicking game troubled the Force all night and winger Cole Forbes took advantage to score two of the six Blues tries.
Flanker Tizzano and hooker Nic Dolly joined Beale on the Force scoresheet.
"Good to be back mate, but disappointed in the end, the Blues really turned it on there," Beale said.
Harry Potter makes a break with Kurtley Beale in support. Getty
"Boys are gutted, so back to the drawing board. A little bit of butterflies there but it's rugby, you love the game for what it is.
"The game's changing, it's getting fitter, faster, stronger but I enjoyed the challenge. I love the unpredictability about the game and you've got a great outfit like the Blues who turned up tonight at the Holy Grail here at Eden Park, which is pretty special."
The Force will now lick their wounds before hosting the ACT Brumbies on May 10.
"I think we were probably just a little bit too frantic in our attack zone, and probably spilled the ball a few times," Force captain Jeremy Williams said.
"It's quite greasy out here and ball security was a big thing. At the start of the first half we were fighting really well and just lapses in those 10 minute blocks there where they just got away from us.
"It's a disappointing score line. We've got a great group of men in the team. We'll take learnings from this and move forward."
