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.
“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.
“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.”
cm
Guest
OK, here's my issue: "Put the clipboard and Filofax away, put the responsibility for winning on the players, sit back and watch a core element of Rugby do its thing." You make it sound so simple! And, no, oh literal-minded one, plenty of WBs coaches have had "success" (and while I admit definitions vary, you only seem to regard winning a Grand Slam or RWC as success). So in my view there is plenty to learn from those who have coached with lesser distinction - and not just from their mistakes. And before we get too personal, my reference to Australia was a failed attempt to humorously refer to Aussies' tradition of not taking the self-important too seriously. Which was a fair call, as evidenced by your appeal to the Roar moderators to delete a comment you didn't like.
Mike
Guest
Its only brought up by those with no credibility, like Andrew Webster. The Paris dressing room incident, which he tried to make out to indicate a problem with Deans (or even with the Wallabies for that matter) was in November 2010, which just shows his poor grasp of reality. And the All Blacks under Henry had plenty of misdemeanours too. Henry, incidentally, never denied that, nor did he ever suggest that the All Blacks should change their supportive culture, whereby AB players with problems were helped through them rather than simply being blamed. As long as Australian are dominated by a culture of blame, we will not produce a side to rival the ABs.
Mike
Guest
There was nothing cynical in my comment, cm, just fact - something you appear to find difficult to handle. As my comment clearly implied, I am giving McKenzie another season to prove himself, so please spare me the rubbish about "let's give the guy more than 5 minutes". He's already been given one season and he'll be given at least two more, but that doesn't mean we have to listen to the typical "let's talk up the Wallaby results" rubbish.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Have another read. Comprehension may take a while. On your prejudices: a) Only ex-Wallaby coaches, of which only two have been successful, may contribute, arguably therefore this site and all contributions are rendered useless. b) Only patently obvious Australians may contribute because the Internet was invented by, maintained for, exclusively those boat people with seniority. Good luck enforcing that. c) Passing some control (and the responsibility) to the players is challenging, perhaps even dangerous. The only part I concede is the 'mere', apt, accurate and complete.
cm
Guest
So a mere punter can't call BS on a "guru"? It's an opinion site, and an Australian one at that.
Crashy
Guest
Link is so refreshing. Deans did a huge amount of work with the grassroots so he'll always have my respect. I just feel too many players let him down and he didn't seem to have the power to either sack them or tell them to pull their heads in. I wish him the best but link seems to be the right man for the job so injuries permitting, let's see how we go this year.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Filter failure?
Birdy
Guest
Come on jutsie - you can do better than that surely!
cm
Guest
Great advice, obviously coming from the depths of your experience as the Wallabies' coach.
cm
Guest
Let's give the guy more than 5 minutes to build a team in line with his own values, oh cynical one!
jutsie
Guest
THree of the four best wallabies last year were all nsw born and bred (folau, hooper, fardy). stephen moore the other top performer was born in saudi arabia to irish parents but came to aus when he was 5.
jutsie
Guest
maybe the all blacks under henry were just better at keeping the misdemeanors under wraps, going on stilinox benders like jane/dagg during a world cup is just as bad as the "infamous night in paris" which is always brought up as the defining moment when deans lost the dressing room.
Mike
Guest
"Deans mistakes were that he put a vacuum by not communicating a clear vision & expectation." Thanks for the fantasy tale. At the moment, McKenzie hasn't got the Wallabies back to the level they were under Deans. When he does, then it will be time to start casting aspersions on other coaches. "You can see how the All Blacks under Henry had a superb culuture." The All Blacks under Henry had much the same culture as they have always had. Nor has it changed under Hansen.
Adsa
Guest
Today Qld won the mens light weight 4 in rowing!
Mike
Guest
Great teams win matches against other great teams. In his first season Wallabies under McKenzie failed to take a match against the All Blacks, the Springboks or England . This year he gets another chance.
Johan
Guest
Except it wouldn't be true with other countries!! Oh and my country is queensland. I am a professional queenslander - yeah go the reds, broncos and roar and anything to do with queensland.
Birdy
Guest
Most countries have some examples of this - the Wallabies are taking it to a whole new level though; and they're virtually all your better players.
chuck
Guest
that was well installed in the past allblack before Graham Henry arrived
Buzzard
Guest
As long as no one take any sleeping pills!
AndyS
Guest
Not sure I'd agree. Beale and O'Connor lacked personal discipline, O'Connor's sense of self-importance went so far as to try dictating how the Force should operate, but Cooper's went even further despite playing for the Reds.