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Cheika sends the Wallabies a warning with Beale call

26th October, 2014
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Michael Cheika has to go back to the drawing board. (Source: AAP Image/Theron Kirkman)
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26th October, 2014
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New Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has sent a powerfui message to his troops – Kurtley Beale won’t be invited to join his teammates on the spring tour.

Once Beale was fined $45,000 on Friday night by the Code of Conduct tribunal for sending a lewd text to Di Patston, the Wallabies business manager, it was readily accepted that was that.

Beale would resume his international career immediately on the first plane out for Heathrow.

“No,” said Cheika.

That small word sent a mighty big message to the Wallabies, a ‘don’t mess with me’ message.

Under the watch of former Wallabies coaches Robbie Deans and Ewen McKenzie, far too many disciplines were broken, or ignored, damaging team culture. At the first hurdle on his watch, Cheika’s foot has come down hard on one of his very best players, and one he stood up for by letter at his tribunal hearing.

By any standards that was a huge call by Cheika, telling Beale he wasn’t wanted on tour and to start training for the Waratahs’ defence of their Super Rugby title. Cheika added if there were injuries on this tour, Beale could be called on, but not to count on it.

Now watch the Wallabies improve out of sight, the disipline bar has been raised and Cheika won’t take any prisoners. If you’d asked me a month ago how the Wallabies will go on this tour, and eventually the Rugby World Cup, I would have suggested a prayer or two, then hope with fingers crossed.

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Carpeting Beale has changed all that, and I am very much a Beale supporter as a world-class footballer, despite his brain explosion moments.

I will predict two things right now.

First up, the Wallabies will be ready to win a record third Rugby World Cup when their campaign kicks off against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on September 23 next year. And secondly, Kurtley Beale will be a better man, and a better player, now Cheika has taken this surprise stand.

So let’s remember the starting point for success was October 25, 2014, the day when Michael Cheika knocked back sending for Kurtley Beale to teach him a lesson he will never forget.

And nor will the 33 Wallabies on tour forget either.

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