Kurtley Beale’s Test career is in the hands of the ARU’s integrity unit after the troubled playmaker was dropped for Saturday’s clash with Argentina following a verbal altercation with a member of the Wallabies’ management staff.
No stranger to drama and controversy, Beale faces an anxious wait as his employers investigate “an alleged incident” on the Wallabies’ flight from Johannesburg to South America on Sunday.
Coach Ewen McKenzie said it was critical to determine the full facts before casting judgment after the staff member opted to return home to Australia on Wednesday while Beale remained with the Wallabies for their Rugby Championship closer in Mendoza.
But after declaring Beale available for selection, McKenzie axed the backline ace after a poor showing off the bench in last Saturday’s 28-10 loss to the Springboks in Cape Town – and now this.
After opening the Rugby Championship as Australia’s first-choice five-eighth, the one-time world player of the year nominee had been used as an impact reserve for the Wallabies’ past three Tests.
Now he’s out of the match-day 23 altogether and is at the mercy of an integrity unit headed by former long-time Wallabies team manager and policeman Phil Thomson and also including members of the ARU’s human resources department.
While one more strike could mean out for the soon-to-be-off-contract Beale, just as it did precisely 12 months ago for his good mate James O’Connor, McKenzie said the 25-year-old was innocent until proven guilty of any wrongdoing.
“Matters of integrity, you’ve actually got to protect the people involved until there is some sort of decision,” McKenzie said.
“We’ve referred it to the experts.”
An ARU spokesperson said they expected the investigation to be completed by the end of next week.
Beale’s 47-Test career has been dogged by off-field controversies and indiscretions.
Last year, he was sent home from South Africa following a scuffle with Melbourne Rebels teammates Cooper Vuna and Gareth Delve before being suspended and then undergoing counselling and rehabilitation for alcohol-related issues.
McKenzie declined to divulge whether alcohol was involved in the latest incident – in which he claimed “there were a number of people involved” – but said he was determined to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.
McKenzie’s predecessor, Robbie Deans, ultimately lost his job due to the Wallabies’ dipping behavioural standards and only this week Deans – breaking a 15-month silence on his sacking – defended claims that he’d been too lenient on O’Connor, Beale and fellow young gun Quade Cooper after they repeatedly landed in hot water.
Last year, McKenzie stood down six squad members for one match and sanctioned a further nine for breaches of internal team protocols after their late-night drinking session following a win over Ireland in Dublin.
On Wednesday, he vowed to continue to come down hard on players found to have stepped out of line.
“I’ve taken it very seriously since I’ve taken over the job and I’ve been very proactive,” McKenzie said.
“We’ve had a pretty clean run, but I’ll continue to be proactive when matters turn up.
“So I’m not going to sit here and leave things undone or not attended.
“Obviously the ARU will take the lead on it, but I’ll follow it through and make sure things get sorted.”
Upfromdown
Guest
As some other roarers I have heard there is a relationship bw link and the manager. Is it substantiated? No. But neither is anything else so far. The overriding thing for me is that all the players seem to be backing KB, unlike they did with JOC last year, which tends to indicate that there may be some truth in the rumour of an affair. So EM jumps in the cab with her to try and keep the press, players and most importantly his family at bay.
Hatchet
Guest
We need discipline all round. However, did Link advise the team of travel dress requirements? Is there any reason why he did not say to Beale to change shirt?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Who is Di Patston ? Is she the Business Manger which is the new wave name for Team Manager ? Sounds a bit precious having to fly back home after the altercation if that's why she did it. If KB was being a smart arse and she couldn't handle it she's in the wrong business. Alternatively she could have told him to sod off and we will discuss this later. Of course it could have been a lot more than this however it seems a trivial matter that should have been nipped in the bud there and then. This shouldn't be a story. Come on Link, you need to tighten the ship.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Are you still going? Yawn. Give it a rest Foghorn.
Chivas
Guest
It might sound like that to you Bobby, but I was relating how it works in my experience. Maybe your experience is different... wouldn't know from your contribution. Still that is the risk of explaining anything based on personal experience that people like you will use it as an opportunity to make some senseless comment....much like some of the posts here. Cheers
Red Kev
Roar Guru
The question has to be asked though, is it NSW entitlement and arrogance (you know it exists even if you don't like to admit it), or is it ACT chip on the shoulder stuff (theirs may not be as pronounced as Queensland's but it is there). I would guess it has a lot to do with Beale not playing at 12 and the continual NSW push for AAC at 13 - but then I'm a Queenslander and think AAC belongs in the back three - so no doubt I think that because I want to think that.
Bobby
Guest
The irony of you screaming through cap locks for someone to grow up haha
AndrewWA
Guest
It shouldn't be up to the team management to encourage KB to toe the line. Carter reacted to the reminder as one would expect. 24 other team members didn't need any follow-up. KB was obviously making a choice. He's no longer a kid. He should suffer the consequences like a man. KB is a senior player who well knows the dress protocols. The players can virtually wear anything while on the plane (just like the rest of us) but are expected to wear the team kit (in this case a polo shirt) on arrival. They are meant to present as a team. In this regard the ABs and Bokke have always been in front of us. They show what a privilege it is to wear their national team colours. The senior playing group should have been the ones to step in to short circuit any altercation. Not wait until it was well past recovery. BUT KB has previously shown that he's not good at accepting guidance from others with his hitting of two Rebel colleagues while on tour. It's sad that Rugby Press always leave out the fact that Gareth Delve ( a great bloke) was KB's Captain. Clearly KB's main concern is KB/self. Even Higgers with his terrible grammar should know that there is no "I" in team. I'll be saddened if Union loses KB as he is capable of so much but the team and results need to take priority over the individual. For the same reason, I dislike disproportionate ARU top-ups to a chosen few - Cooper, Folau and Hunt. These are just slaps in the face to those who have shown a long term commitment to rugby.
Old Bugger
Guest
Of course their response was after the coaches decision or did you expect them to react before the coach did.....how foolish if you did. But I guess, if you support the WBs, then I can understand why you'd consider that approach....
Dekka
Guest
Rob G if Kurtley Beale told Mackenzie it to his face that he was an incompetent coach then I applaud him, because he probably said what most people are thinking. I read a report earlier that Kurtley Beale looks certain to move to the NRL in 2015 and Toulon in 2016. It would be a shame if he is lost to Australian Rugby, because he was one of the reasons why the Waratahs won the Super 15 title and players of hs calibre are not readily replaced. Will the ARU please sack Pulver and MacKenzie, who are both causing irreparable harm to Australian Rugby. The Wallabies performances have been well below par under MacKenzie, despite all his big talking and self promotion. Pulver continues to put a positive spin on things, because it was his decision to appoint MacKenzie. Crowd numbers are down and public interest is on the wane, which is a shame considering that the Waratahs earlier this year started a resurgence in support for Rugby.
Chivas
Guest
Leadership implies you take control. Snitching sounds like running to someone else to lead... I like Mowen. I just think your comment is misguided and confused when you use leadership and snitching to support one side and crying to mummy on the other...
Chivas
Guest
But seem to smack of tall poppy and personal insecurities.
Richie Walton
Roar Guru
This cropped up last year when Mackenzie disciplined the guys on the EOYT - the Tahs boys felt they'd been setup. It's very odd, so many of these blokes grew up playing together. I just don't get how they all suddenly can't get along based on which super franchise they play for.
Chivas
Guest
@ Pirates, It would be so much easier to treat your posts with relevance if in fact they were. For the record I consider it perfectly allowable fr someone to defend their own integrity and values. If a manager can't manage people and situations, then they really shouldn't be managing. And the day I have an HR person disciplining my team will be a cold day in h3ll. From time to time things flair up, things get said, which is when I step in and shut it down if I deem it necessary. On the flip side I have told a person or two senior to me to go and F themselves. I have offered my resignation effective within 24 hours where I have felt I was being bullied or manipulated against my will. So unless you know the circumstances and all sides, comments like yours and Geoff's above are irrelevant. You personally can work out what works best for you. I am not here to assist or advise you with that. As with Geoff you may be employed to leave your personality at the door and only speak when spoken to in the right tone, but you are the best person to determine that. And for the record, no-one is making excuses for anyone. we all own our own decisions and the consequences,. Also KB hasn't apologized or even suggested he is particularly concerned one way or another, so why would I or anyone else? I have also not read anywhere where he is playing the victim or not owning any consequences. You shouldn't assume because somebody disagrees with such running commentaries as made by yourself and other on issues where there is so little in the way of facts or context, they are making excuses. Also, just because you want to share your opinion on KB based on your own vivid imagination, don't assume I am the flipside to the same coin or defending anyone... I am just questioning your obvious complete lack of appreciation of what is said, the context, the reasoning etc. upon which you base your comments and can come up with with "so I'm allowed to say anything...". in fact you are as long as you live with the consequences. You seem to get away with it here :-). Finally there will always be those willing to put the boot in from the sidelines and make ign0rant comments based purely on conjecture and forums such as this support people expressing those sorts of opinions. That is just the way it is. By the way how is Higginbottham going, still the best no. 8 in the world and threatening to usurp the IRB player of the year :-). Or is there a new bandwagon to jump on :-).
Chivas
Guest
PiratesRugby
Guest
So I'm allowed to say anything I like to anyone at work? No need to be respectful or courteous? Poor Kurtley. Fortunately, there will always be someone to make excuses for him. His lack of character must be someone else's fault.
dahl
Guest
Anti Beale and anti Waratahs are not the same thing...
purerugby
Guest
Just check out Deans book [about to release I think?] and the sabotage that went on in the yellow jersy and despite that Deans coached the Wallabies from 5th to second on world IRB rankings and held them there for just short of 3 years. There's a shortage of respect for the jersy hence the backchat - mind you with the clandestine meetings, secret deals, undermining activities demonstrated by the upper levels in ARU HQ, there's not much example to follow. Until you get blokes like Pulver et al to act with integrity, there's no lead to follow. And you can't lead with a "do as I say' not "do as I do" leadership mentality.
Wilson
Guest
Ask why the Operations Manager left the Wallabies before the tour to Sth Africa. I don't think all is at it seems in Camp Wallaby. The media are focused on the wrong person. Look to team management, not an elite athlete with a troubled past.
Bobby
Guest
Return to league? Has never been in league