Recently in Australian rugby there has been a maelstrom of gossip and innuendo. The dust will settle, and when it does hopefully Australian rugby will look back and come to some sensible conclusions.
So much has been written that perhaps there is nothing original to say. However can I make some observations about this sordid episode in our rugby history.
1. The press
The press are not immune from criticism. They have no God-given right to pretend that everything they publish is accurate, relevant, or of value. One only has to read any Sydney newspaper to understand that.
So next time a CEO has a whinge about your professionalism, suck it up. Some of the reporting on this issue belongs in the London tabloids. That’s fine if that’s the sort of journalist you want to be, but don’t expect a Walkley Award.
2. Di Patson
No doubt there is a story of which I am unaware, but let’s just deal with what has been printed.
Di Patson receives an inappropriate and lewd text. It would be upsetting to anyone. It matters not whether you are a female or male. There is acceptable workplace behaviour and unacceptable workplace behaviour.
This was unacceptable. Di Patson dealt with it, it seems, in a private and sensitive way which allowed the transgressor to move on.
Next is conflict on a plane over dress. We don’t really know what was said. However it is a simple truth that if someone higher up the chain than you in an organisation asks you to do something, you do it or have a rational discussion about it.
We don’t know what conversation transpired between Patson and Kurtley Beale.
Lastly we have a story that Patson asked Beale about an unpaid hotel bill whilst sitting on the sideline at Newlands. No accurate source is quoted, it is all rumour and innuendo.
Nothing substantial has been revealed to indicate that Patson had done anything wrong. Now it may be her job was a furphy and she was incompetent. If that is the case there is nothing in what is published to support that.
3. The circumstances of Patson’s employment
Since when do the bright sparks of the press think that a CEO of any organisation oversees the employment of every employee? If they did, most of these journalists would not have a job.
McKenzie was given free rein to employ his own staff, something that is quite common in coaching set ups.
No coach would appoint someone they did not approve of. That may give rise to management issues on McKenzie’s behalf, which may lead to criticism of his performance, but there are no fully substantiated facts out there. Just gossip.
All that is important is to establish her job specs and whether she was capable of carrying out the job she is employed to do. I haven’t seen the job specs and I am not sure who in the media has, but it appears not an issue of work but of a personality clash.
Patson has been there for 12 months. If she was unable to do her job, one would reasonably expect to have some detail. But there is none.
4. The players
It is inconceivable that a Richie McCaw or Jean de Villiers would be conducting press conferences trying to shore up a teammate’s position. The actions of Michael Hooper and others do the culture of Australian rugby immeasurable harm. There is, or should be, a management structure in the ARU which must be followed.
Again, it may well be the case that that structure has been deficient. Even if it was, it does not excuse players usurping the position of the coach, a staff member, and the board by attempting to preempt the outcome of a disciplinary matter.
The players are employed to do a job. That is to play and off the field conduct themselves in a way which promotes the game not the politics.
5. Where did it come from?
I cannot but think that the genesis of this debacle can be found in the suspension on last year’s spring tour of the Dublin group.
No doubt there was also some resentment about Ben Mowen’s appointment as captain. If this is true, then it is outrageous that player power has carried on a campaign for almost 12 months.
I appreciate that throwing conspiracy theories into the air leaves me open to the same criticism I have levelled at those who have promoted the gossip and innuendo. However, unlike those commentators, I draw no conclusion.
6. Where to now?
Bill Pulver has come under fire. I do not know enough to say if it is justified. However he should be clearly supported if he chose to confront the playing group and let them know how the world really works.
The great teams of the world work because the best players want to play for them and because the players know that if they don’t perform they will be replaced. That is the experience of the All Blacks, the Springboks and any other great club, provincial or national side across the world.
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