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Wallabies coach wants top citizens

Roar Guru
28th March, 2014
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1297 Reads

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie is looking as much at the attitudes of players as their form in plotting his course towards next year’s World Cup.

In firm words that suggest overseas-based players like James O’Connor can’t expect ARU top-up assistance to return home in 2015, McKenzie says desire to wear Wallaby gold and professionalism will be major factors in weighing up Test contenders.

The coach is well pleased with the competition for positions and form of Australia’s Super Rugby franchises in 2014 but he’s highlighted consistency as a key for players on and off the field.

McKenzie has been picking the brains of Super Rugby coaches about what sort of citizens players are away from the game and what motivates them.

“The attitudinal side – the right mindset and right behaviours – are a really important part of the make-up for me,” McKenzie told AAP.

“I’m actually looking for consistency, and the technical execution and behaviours and all those things are in the pot.”

A 1991 World Cup winner as a player, McKenzie made team culture a priority in his initial season as coach and showed his intent by suspending six players and reprimanding nine others for late-night boozing in Dublin.

Some off-contract Wallabies are currently eyeing deals overseas while O’Connor – struggling to find a new Super Rugby home – is one who says he wants to come back from Europe next year to make himself eligible for the World Cup.

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“I’m only interested in the ones that want to wear the jersey,” McKenzie said.

“It’s an interesting time but I’ll just concentrate on the players that are eligible.”

McKenzie, who has spoken with O’Connor but isn’t involved in recruitment talks, indicated the wayward talent couldn’t expect to demand money from empty ARU coffers to return.

“He knows he has to rebuild his situation so the first thing is he has to find a club that is interested in an arrangement,” he said.

McKenzie and his fellow selectors will sit down in May to choose their first squad to play France in June’s three-Test series.

The former Test prop agreed he was spoilt for choice in some areas, particularly inside centre where Kurtley Beale has joined Brumbies duo Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano in vying to be a second playmaker beside Quade Cooper.

But he’s not getting too excited.

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“Kurtley is a good player and no one has ever doubted he’s a good player,” McKenzie said.

“He’s in a different position so we’ll see how that develops. It’s early days but certainly he’s influential.”

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