Under-pressure Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie may be forced to name his squad for next week’s Bledisloe Cup match before an ARU investigation into Kurtley Beale is completed.
Troubled star Beale was immediately whisked away by ARU officials upon touching down in Sydney on Tuesday night with his playing future unclear following a mid-air confrontation with Wallabies staffer Di Patston.
The ARU’s integrity unit is looking to finalise its investigation into the incident which occurred when the team was en route between South Africa and Argentina by the end of the week.
Both Beale and McKenzie are set to be interviewed at the game’s headquarters in St Leonards on Wednesday and the Wallabies coach will announce his squad for the third Bledisloe – against New Zealand in Brisbane on October 18 – on either Thursday or Friday this week.
Depending how far integrity unit boss Phil Thompson is already through his investigation, findings into Beale may not be finalised by the time the squad is announced.
With inside back Matt Toomua battling a concussion problem, McKenzie would be hard-pressed leading Beale out of his squad on form alone.
Beale arrived home from Australia’s disastrous tour, where they lost to the Springboks and then historically to Argentina, to waiting media, and was immediately escorted away by David Crombie, the ARU President.
The off-contract NSW Waratahs playmaker has been linked to possible moves to the NRL or French rugby.
McKenzie emerged through the arrival gate and told reporters he couldn’t confirm whether Beale would be included in his squad to face the All Blacks should the investigation into his off-field behaviour still be ongoing.
“You’re asking questions I haven’t even got around to thinking about the squad,” said McKenzie, who reportedly sat next to Patston at the time of the alleged incident and later accompanied the Business Manager to Buenos Aires airport for her immediate flight home to Australia.
“Obviously we’ve already flagged the ARU has undertaken an investigation and that will happen.
“I don’t know the exact timing. Obviously it’s been targeted for this week.
“It’s been a tough period.”
McKenzie has flagged that personnel changes could be on the horizon for the end of year Spring Tour, after several stars have failed to impress from extended opportunities.
Stars Will Genia and Quade Cooper are both expected to play in an NRC game on Thursday at Brookvale Oval and are on the comeback trail.
McKenzie confirmed the coaching staff were looking through options.
“We’ve got lots of situations now with injuries,” he said.
“We’ve gone through the replays and spent all Sunday on that topic looking at the football side of it.
“There’s some bits and pieces that will be a discussion amongst the coaching staff and there’s things we’re looking at.”
“I’ve had lots of challenges in the job but it’s quite clear we’re trying to make progress and not everything is going our way.”
Bakkies
Guest
Asics is a big company. I often wonder how many shirts the ARU sells these days given they retail in Australia at a whopping $160. Super Rugby jerseys are the same price as the test jersey which I also don't get. Jerseys are cheaper in Europe hence more Rugby fans wearing them.
Thunderguts
Guest
Chan Wee on my planet the majority of people call soccer "Football". I dare you to go up to a Rugby League player and tell him that the game he plays is "Football" The original Ranfurly Shield in NZ was presented in 1902 by Lord Ranfurly who had it inscribed with "to The NZ Football Association complete with a graphic showing a soccer goal. In 1904 The holders of the Ranfurly Shield had the inscription and graphic changed to Rugby and the graphic was changed to reflect a set of goal posts. Since 1904 NZ have been very clear as to what game the are playing and that heritage is why they are streets ahead of the Wannabees who are to this day totally confused as to what game they are playing
ChanWee
Guest
" I agree that the most deserving code to be called football is probably AFL (the rules of Melbourne Football Club written down in 1859 are pretty much identical to those of modern AFL, at a time when “soccer” as we now know it had not been codified)." LOL so by this , FIFA needs to call it the soccer world cup and not football world cup? only few people call football as soccer , simply becoz they have been calling some other game football , so as to avoid confusion. maybe u need to revisit history 101. according to which rugby was born when william webb elliss of rugby school disregarded the rules of football and ran with the ball in hand. that was circa 1823 !!! while this story is said to be more folklore than proven fact, it just shows how old football is
ChanWee
Guest
it was more of Spies jumping into the tackle. he shud have been a center, his running style is so much a sprinters :)
ChanWee
Guest
@Monday's Expert : dude, there is no need to tell professional players what to wear when on tour as a team , although it is done for the benefit of newcomers. when a professional sport/ game is sponsored by someone , it is a given that the team must wear their gear at most times (basically when in public). if they wear something else or nothing to bed does not matter. recently at the footy world cup the England team had an issue when one guy (i think it was Frank Lampard) stepped out of the hotel in adidas tshirt, and nike took exception and made a complaint (which was settled privately). there are certain obligations that come along with sponsorships. the manufacturer actually pays the team to put on that shirt. is it too much to ask for a player to oblige? after all part of the pay comes from that sponsorship! i always wondered why Auzzy cant get a big name shirt sponsor like Nike or Adidas or even Umbro or UA. when players have such attitudes maybe they think its better to be with even a smaller teram :)
Bakkies
Guest
Scrivener was a very average coach at the Brumbies. I don't know how he has got as far as he has and Matt O'Connor who was around at the same time is destroying the work that Cheika and Schmidt did at Leinster.
Bakkies
Guest
Giteau has just penned another deal to stay in France there shouldn't be any suggestion about him coming back to Australia.
Bakkies
Guest
White, Cheika?
Magic Sponge
Guest
Whats Patston on the plane for. HR wtf
Machiavelli
Guest
Looks like a few Di Patston articles have been pulled by Fairfax Media - somethings up!
DaniE
Guest
Brain is hurting thinking of the possible replacements for head coach... If the obvious suspects say no, who the heck could it be?
JB
Guest
i've heard the same rumour from what i would deem a reputable source
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
I dont think they would at all. I hope he starts at 12 just to put a sock in it tbh.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
It's what happens next though - the getting brushed aside and / or trampled - that sort of mucks that theory up somewhat.
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
You have brains in Aus right? How about out thinking NZ, figuring out a way, upsetting them, getting them off balance. Aus has the talent pool to beat anyone. Heres the thing though, they are under no illusions about how they must play, the "Ausie" way, the way that won them games when they had better coaches, players and leadership, because thats what will bring the crowds in. However Aus doest have what it takes to play that way and they are going to be inconsistent until they come to terms with putting the horse before the cart and using whatever they have to win in whatever way possible. Drop a goal, put a non-passer at 12, play a kicking game, whatever. The fans wont like it but you must endure and overcome if required. Play to win, not to entertain.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Is it true that you just made up that fantasy hypothetical? Twice?
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Is it true that you just made up that fantasy hypothetical?
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
Yeah poaching. PRODUCE YOUR OWN PLAYERS.
Mike
Guest
"...he makes a remark..." Yep, definitely a sacking offence. :roll:
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
Yeah or maybe the person in the wrong got sent home like normally happens. For all we know, it was here that did the wrong thing and let something r@cist go and Beale reacted. You havnt a clue Lazza.