This happened to my sim partner during initial type rating. Since he is ex turboprop, i guess rudder usage wasn't the issue.
After the session, a private debrief, revealed that he was in fact targeting the FD bars (which was in the opposite direction), instead of beta target. Surprising this happened... since he had already flown similar FD bars on turboprops.
Anyway, he got it right from the next session..
Our sim instructor would always repeat the phrase-
Pitch-Beta-Toga, then fly, trim comes only after these actions.
My guess is... probably the sequence of events is made so rigid by Airbus, that a new guy is too busy trying to get the sequence right rather than flying.
Of course, in due time everything becomes second nature.
