After stopping a rampaging Sonny Bill Williams in his tracks, Wallabies star Kurtley Beale says he has the defensive resolve to match his attacking flair at Test level.
The fleet-footed Beale has an offensive repertoire to rival anyone's in world rugby.
But it was his defensive job on the All Blacks' strike weapon that struck a chord in the narrow Bledisloe Cup game two loss to the world champions in New Zealand last weekend.
A front-on tackle to halt Williams was followed by a perfect hit and rip on the tryline moments later, as Australia rallied to twice regain the lead but eventually fell 35-29.
Beale said it was proof he had improved in an area that was such an issue he was often protectively pushed to the flanks whenever the opponent had the ball.
"I hope I've proved myself, but I'll keep building and working on those things," he said.
"We (Williams) play in the same position, and I guess bump into each other in those set pieces.
"It's always a great challenge. He's a great player and brings the best out of you.
"I'm glad to put myself in those positions to help the team out."
Beale, who returns to Super Rugby next season with NSW after a stint with English club Wasps, was in Waratahs blue at Wednesday's Brisbane Global Rugby Tens Launch.
While excited to take part in the 10-a-side tournament, which will include Olympic sevens champions Fiji among the 14 teams, the 62-Test veteran's focus is on green and gold.
The Wallabies meet South Africa in Perth on September 9, hoping to carry over the form that saw them come within minutes of a long-awaited victory on New Zealand soil.
"It's important that we start the way we finished in that game," Beale said.
"The All Blacks are a pretty special team, we can definitely take some positives out of that game and build into a pretty big week over in Perth against the Springboks."
Fiji will join French club Pau as the two new additions to next February's Brisbane Global Rugby Tens at Suncorp Stadium, replacing Toulon and South Africa's Bulls.
Organisers also confirmed on Wednesday that a Western Australian side will compete regardless of the Western Force's on-going courtroom battles with Australian Rugby Union.
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