Waratahs young guns Kurtley Beale and Rob Horne have missed out on selection in both the Wallabies and Australia A teams, but new Australian coach Robbie Deans says the pair are destined to represent their country one day.
Deans comes into the Wallabies set-up immediately after guiding the Crusaders to their sixth Super 14 title, having pipped the Waratahs 20-12 in Christchurch on Saturday night.
The teenage duo of Beale, 19, and Horne, 18, have impressed Deans but were not picked in the 30-man Wallabies squad or 26-man Australia A squad.
Instead, the pair were named in the Australian under-20s team to play in this month’s junior world championship in Wales – although Beale will now be spending the month on the sidelines after being ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury.
"It's a World Cup cauldron, so it's a great development opportunity," Deans said.
"They'll be leaders within the team, so it's just a superb opportunity for them. Hopefully they go over there and thrive and win it and come back and we'll push on."
"You've seen them play. They're going great guns.
"I mean, there's nothing in concrete obviously. But (although) they're not being considered in this instance, they will be down the track, when they return."
Deans was excited about the challenge of leaving New Zealand rugby, hoping to ensure the Australians are a genuine threat to the All Blacks by the time the Kiwis host the 2011 World Cup.
"They (the All Blacks) have got a great opportunity in front of them now," he said.
"You know, you've got a World Cup coming in New Zealand. It's a huge opportunity to showcase New Zealand and I really hope they do that well.
"I see my part, the piece of the puzzle, being to ensure that it's not a one-horse race and make sure the event itself is competitive."
