 In 2011 Beale received the John Eales Medal, awarded to Australia's best rugby player of the year, and was nominated for the IRB International Player of the Year Award.He was named as part of the Australian squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and was favoured as the starting fullback when fit to play.However, he missed the Wallabies semi-final against the All Blacks due to a hamstring injury suffered in the previous game against South Africa.