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It doesn’t matter if the ARU decision to stand down Waratahs fullback Israel Folau from the Force game in Perth last weekend was right or wrong on medical grounds.
It was the way he was stood down.
Folau told Fox Sports’ Nick McArdle and Phil Kearns on the sideline just before the Perth game he was disappointed and frustrated to have missed out when he had been cleared to play from his throat injury by the three specialists he had seen – the latest in Perth a couple of days before.
When asked if he had been contacted by the ARU over the standing down, Folau gave an emphatic no.
At the end of the game, where the Waratahs were pathetic, McArdle and Kearns interviewed Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie.
Three times McKenzie said ARU boss Bill Pulver had contacted Folau with the decision, and adding four or so times that it was based on the best long-term interests of the player.
The Roar contacted the ARU to provide clarification in the communication between parties.
“There has been regular communication between the Australian Rugby Union and NSW Waratahs about this matter, and as we would normally do, we have channelled communication to the player through the NSW Waratahs doctor,” Pulver said.
Pulver admitted that “the process has been slightly complicated in this case due to the Waratahs being on the road, and the doctors involved not always being in the same location as each other or Israel.”
However, he did confirm that he spoke with Folau on Friday evening, and insisted he understood Folau’s disappointment in not playing in the Force game.
“It’s understandable that Israel Folau was disappointed to be ruled out of Saturday night’s match against Western Force.”
But he said it was a decision that shouldn’t be put in the hands of coaches and players.
“Coaches and players are not qualified to make medical decisions, despite their eagerness to return to play following injury.
“As the governing body, we have an independent medical expert, who isn’t aligned to any team, to assess the advice of all medical professionals involved, and make decisions to protect the welfare of our players.
Quite obviously there has been a communication shambles. There’s nothing new in that, shambles have been endemic in the ARU for most of the 50 years I’ve been dealing with the governing body.
Folau has every right to feel dirty; the way it was handled was amateur in a professional sport, and letting the dirty laundry out for all to see makes it far worse. Miscommunication is forgivable, but it’s hardly a first for the sport.
The ARU functioned even worse when rugby was amateur, with the left hand rarely knowing what the right hand was doing.
The majority of ARU delegates at the time slotted into two categories. They were either territorial and only interested in pushing their own barrow, or they were tunnel-visioned into looking after the interests of their own club, or state.
Seeing NSW had more delegates than Queensland, that’s what started the ill-feeling, even jealousy, by Queensland towards NSW which at times bordered on hatred.
To cut a long and sordid story short, that’s why there’s been a chairman and a president, one from NSW, the other from Queensland, to keep the peace.
The chairman is from one state to look after ARU business behind closed doors, the president from the other state to be the ceremonial figure-head, standing on podiums and looking official shaking hands with other dignatories and/or players.
Pathetic, but effective.
There are dozens of scratch your head and blink stories, but today isn’t the day to tell them.
Hopefully the good doctor and Bill Pulver have learned a lesson from the Israel Folau shambles.
Rugby deserves nothing less.