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Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has scoffed at suggestions of overkill in his decision to sensationally stand down six players for late night drinking on their end-of-season tour.
McKenzie has staunchly defended his hard-line stance to mete out one-Test bans that also compromise selections for this weekend’s clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.
Fifteen players in total – almost half the 32-man squad – were disciplined after they stayed out in Dublin to the early hours of Wednesday morning before last weekend’s impressive 32-15 win over Ireland.
Starting wingers Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins, as well as reserve forwards Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan and Liam Gill were most severely punished as they were members of the match-day 23 at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
Australia went on to produce their best performance of a forgettable year by scoring four tries to nil against the Irish.
There were no complaints or police involvement, but McKenzie said he could not overlook breaks in team protocols as he looks to improve team culture and turn his rebuilding side into 2015 World Cup champions.
“The easiest thing to do in these situations is to do nothing,” he said. “But to do nothing will give you mediocrity.
“We need to set high standards and then make sure we stick to them.
“Everyone wants to win a World Cup but its the behaviours that will get you there, you have to concentrate on the behaviours.”
All bar second-string prop Ryan will miss Sunday morning’s Test (AEDT) at Murrayfield, the fourth match on Australia’s end-of-season tour.
Ryan will sit out the final match on tour, against Wales, so the Wallabies can supply a proper bench against the Scots.
It also means McKenzie must be “creative” in his three-quarter line selections, with Ashley-Cooper and Cummins out and red-carded outside centre Tevita Kuridrani facing a likely judicial suspension for his tip tackle on Irish flanker Peter O’Mahony.
An angry McKenzie labelled the unwanted episode a “massive distraction” but said setting high standards and ensuring a strong culture was crucial to turning around a team that has dropped to No.4 on the world rankings.
“It’s the glue that actually binds a team together,” he said. “It’s what is going to make a difference.
“Every team I have been involved with before, if you can manage a team culture and get a strength in that area it can give you the advantage you need to be a championship side.
“We’re not in that space yet but we’re moving there and this is a speedbump for us.”
McKenzie denied he could have dealt with the situation justly before the Ireland Test, after finding out late Wednesday afternoon.
He said he spent the next two days uncovering details and speaking to players individually before the Ireland game.
The players were told their punishments on Sunday morning and the team was addressed collectively by McKenzie and ARU chief executive Bill Pulver before flying to Edinburgh.
“As you can imagine, if I was dealing with one person it would have been easier than dealing with 15,” he said.
“If I could have acted quicker I would have. It’s as simple as that.”
TIMELINE OF EVENTS THAT LED TO WALLABIES PLAYERS BEING DISCIPLINED FOR NIGHT OF DRINKING:
* Tuesday night – All 32 squad-members attend separate team dinners at different Dublin venues in four different groups of around eight players
* Early Wednesday morning – 15 players return back to the team hotel at varying times after midnight, with most believed to have been drinking
* Late Wednesday afternoon (Players’ day off) – coach Ewen McKenzie becomes aware players returned home late and “inappropriate” levels of alcohol consumed
* Thursday and Friday – McKenzie interviews players on a individual basis. No public complaints made
* Saturday night – Australia defeat Ireland 32-15 at Aviva Stadium
* Sunday morning – Players receive punishments and team addressed as a group about team standards by McKenzie and ARU boss Bill Pulver
* Monday morning – McKenzie announces his “firm action” in Edinburgh.NB. Tuesday dinner protocols – Normally held as a full team, including staff, on the evening before a day off training. Players allowed to have a glass or two of wine. Expectation remains they return to hotel rooms by midnight
In Dublin, they were allowed to head out in their “competition groups” to venues of their choice.
McKenzie: “Some players made the decision that the dinner might go significantly longer and involve more drinks and in the end that was not acceptable.”
“That’s not the way it was set up and they have paid a price.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.