It's Beale to the rescue for Wallabies

The Wallabies are pinning their faith in prodigal son Kurtley Beale proving the difference in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship opener in Sydney.

Australian Rugby Union players Kurtley Beale

Israel Folau says he can't wait to again team up with Kurtley Beale in the Bledisloe Cup opener. (AAP)

The Wallabies are backing Kurtley Beale's midfield wizardry to unlock the key to an against-the-odds first Bledisloe Cup series triumph over the All Blacks in 15 years.

Beale hasn't played in almost three months since suffering a hamstring injury during his year-long stint with Wasps in the English Premiership.

But the backline spark has declared himself "ready to go" for his first Test for Australia since a 34-17 loss to New Zealand in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham.

Naming his team on Thursday, coach Michael Cheika is set to start Beale for the first time in 21 Tests, during which the Wallabies have won just 10 times in a disappointing 22-month stretch.

Beale will win the No.12 jumper, playing outside Bernard Foley in a creative midfield that has heartened the Wallabies as they look to snap a five-match losing streak against the All Blacks.

Describing Beale as a once-in-a-generation talent, superstar fullback Israel Folau says he can't wait to reunite with his former Super Rugby-winning teammate in Saturday night's Rugby Championship opener at ANZ Stadium.

"Guys like KB, they don't come around too often. You want to try and make the most of playing alongside him and he's a special player. Everyone knows that," Folau said.

"You give him the ball and he's always going to create something out of nothing.

"You grow that extra leg when you know you have him beside you."

The feeling is mutual, with Beale believing the Wallabies backline has class to burn.

"Especially with having Will Genia and Nick Phipps at the base of the ruck," Beale said.

"You've then got Bernard and myself, Izzy, (Samu) Kerevi; there's a lot of talent there that gets you buzzing a bit.

"We've been working really hard over the last few weeks on those combinations and there's still room for a lot of improvement so that was a bit part of the decision to come back is to be around world-class players.

"It's been a long time coming now. It's great to be back and involved in the Wallabies."

Folau is convinced he, Beale and Foley pose the biggest 10-12-15 threat to the All Blacks.

"We're always confident. We always back each other up," he said.

"We've been playing with KB the last couple of years so I think we've got a great combination."

POSSIBLE WALLABIES TEAM: Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Samu Kerevi, Kurtley Beale, Henry Speight, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Lopeti Timani, Michael Hooper (capt), Ned Hanigan, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Allan Ala'alatoa, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons, Sean McMahon, Nick Phipps, Reece Hodge.


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Source: AAP


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