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.”
Toadflax
Guest
This is a great outcome and the team will ultimately be stronger for it. They are all professionals in elite sportt and need to respect codes of conduct they have signed up to. I am neither a Deans "hater" or fan but the fact is he did not impose this level of disipline. You can understand that he might have hoped the players would have behaved sensibly but once it was clear they would not do so he would have been better off taking a much tougher line. It is fundamental to good management of any group that you "call" beaviour that is inconsistent with your values and also that you get rid of any "value" destroyers. IMHO EM has done a great job here - so all power to his arm.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
What do you mean? Given that this news has only just come to light, I'm left wondering just how 'disciplined players' look & act at Dublin Airport.
Cobber
Guest
I think most will support a team culture where the coach is in charge and rules are followed. It should make for a more cohesive unit and mutual respect amongst players in the future. We ran into the players in Dublin airport Sunday afternoon and it certainly looked like Ewen's disciplining had worked. The sanctioned players to a man were acting as if they had let the team down and I think they had. I think the team will be stronger for the coach taking charge and and instlling a respect for the jersey and I applaud Ewen's stance.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
"I just don’t want to live in a society where the human spirit is killed" Thank you, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn " ... and I will fight tooth and nail to ensure some of what went on in the past remains …" Thank you, Vladimir Putin Will someone find this poor bloke a decent shrink.
AlanKC
Guest
Hmm, so you'd have been happy of they'd all been put on the plane home?
Justin3
Guest
Continually debating with people who have issues on the internet is indeed my issue...
hoqni
Guest
+1 EM is in charge. He wants to build culture. It is only a 1 game reminder for each player. It also opens up competition. Which I believe seniors AAC, TPN and Benn will respond well
labrador
Guest
People lets flip this over for a minute. What if they had lost to Ireland AND it subsequently came out that half the squad were out after midnight drinking AND Link had done nothing about it?? It would have been a massive controversy and God help the team culture and public perception then. Results aside given all the medical evidence does anyone seriously think that not sleeping properly and drinking four days before an international rugby test does not have a detrimental effect on their performance? These guys are very highly paid professionals and we should expect them to behave in that manner. I love a drink more than most but I don't think it is unreasonable for their employers and us as fans to expect them to put the drinking off until they are out of season. Done.
Dirk
Guest
@ zenman. How old are you? You've got a massive entitlement attitude so i'm guessing pretty young. They broke the rules they agreed to follow. What don't you understand about that? Maybe Mummy and Daddy or your boss let you off each time you break rules that you've agreed to follow cause "it wasn't that bad" but in the real world, and especially when you're getting paid extremely well by your employer, you follow the rules in your contract. If you don't, you get penalised. Pretty effing simple.
zenman
Guest
yes
zenman
Guest
boom boom i walked into that one my point stands the hollier than though idea that young men should be in bed by midnight and should only have 2 drinks is a crime against the human spirit robots they are not! robots always rebel against society.... refernce hollywood movies!
Worlds Biggest
Guest
" So you would shake up the team, scratch detailed plans and rush preparation at the last minute prior to one of the wallabies biggest tests of the year? Not sure that would be wise. These conspiracy theories are quite ridiculous." well put Rugby Nut. Link is sending the right message that you break the rules your out of the team and pocket. Simple really. Clearly the culture in the team declined under Deans to the point it got out of hand. Link is trying to clean up the mess and establish proper expectations. Kudos to him. The other area that does need addressing is the senior players taking on more responsibility n the group and establishing the right culture.
Red Kev
Guest
I know mental illness is rife in society - I'm reading your posts
zenman
Guest
I just don't want to live in a society where the human spirit is killed and i will fight tooth and nail to ensure some of what went on inthe past remains.... particularly for a sport that is enjoyed by men that like a good team bond and have generally and historiclaly been responsible in doing so lets not foget mental illness is rife in our society and i think alot is down to stress and not being able to release that sttress in a care free manner... i say let grown men let their hair down once ina while! stop taking rugby so serious RK! Rugby is to be enjoyed... this is not life and death
Red Kev
Guest
They aren't paying their own way - their employer has sent them overseas to do a job. They have a code of conduct. They also have internal team rules that are agreed upon. If you agree to do something then don't you deserve your punishment. If you can't understand the need for behaviour standards when representing your employer (let alone your country) overseas then I hope the most responibility you have is asking "Do you want fries with that?"
zenman
Guest
Why are adult men give a curfew? that in itself is an outrage! let aloen the suspension for a minor break of protocol. they should've all been given a warning and the protocols should be reviewed. Players should be judged on how hard they train and play not what time they go to bed!
kingplaymaker
Guest
I doubt he would call you clueless at it though.
Old_Laurentian
Guest
I note that the three Aussie players in Planet Rugby's 'international team of the week' - Moore, Slipper and Cooper, were not in the group that need sanctioning. Coincidence?
Red Kev
Guest
No, but then Deans hasn't been as successful as me as a Project Manager either.
Ozrugbynut
Guest
So you would shake up the team, scratch detailed plans and rush preparation at the last minute prior to one of the wallabies biggest tests of the year? Not sure that would be wise. These conspiracy theories are quite ridiculous.