Ask coach Bobby Dwyer, or any of the 1991 Rugby World Cup winning Wallabies, about Ewen McKenzie and they would say, “Great bloke, great team-man, great prop, and mighty tough.”
Tough is in a player’s DNA, it doesn’t change. So McKenzie’s dramatic and devastating exit has to be the tip of the iceberg.
McKenzie couldn’t be a wimp if his life depended on it. Having said that, he hasn’t been his normal, affable and easy-going self over the last few months.
Being terse, short-tempered, and scowling, aren’t part of McKenzie’s DNA. But for ARU boss Bill Pulver to blame the media for McKenzie’s demise is a red herring.
What is even more bewildering is the slience from ARU chairman Michael Hawker, one of the best men I’ve known in rugby for over 50 years.
Not only was Hawker a top-shelf Wallaby inside back, he’s made his mark in business on the world stage – he’s all quality.
I expect we’ll hear from him sooner than later, and in tandem with former Wallaby skipper John Eales, a board member, he’ll lead the way to find McKenzie’s long-term replacement before Friday, when the Wallabies leave on the five-week Spring tour.
There are only two possible contenders – Michael Cheika and Jake White – but tactically there’s only one to carry on the basic core work of McKenzie.
And that’s Cheika.
They are two peas from the same pod, where rugby is to be enjoyed by both the Wallabies and the fans by running the ball, not kicking the soulcase out of it.
White, on the other hand, is a renowned ‘territory gained by the boot’ coach.
But there’s one major difference between McKenzie and Cheika – the latter is a better man-management coach.
The case in point is Kurtley Beale.
Cheika gave the talented Beale the confidence in himself that no other coach had achieved, and was rewarded by Beale being a vital cog at inside centre in the exciting Waratah backline which helped end an 18-year Super drought.
The added bonus was the total understanding and combination between Beale and the most destructive member of the backline, Israel Folau.
But for some unfathomable reason McKenzie chose to ignore both those built-in bonuses when he threw Beale to the lions by naming him at 10 for the first two Bledisloe Cup clashes. When it didn’t work – and it was never going to with Nic White the halfback – McKenzie didn’t see the light and move Beale to 12, he dropped Beale to the bench.
That decision didn’t show Beale any respect for services rendered, and don’t tell me Tests are any different to Super Rugby, because Beale is a tried and tested Wallaby, but played out of position.
I’d venture to say if Cheika was the Wallaby coach at the start of the Rugby Championship, Nick Phipps would have been the half, Bernard Foley 10, Rob Horne 11, Beale 12, Adam Ashley-Cooper 13, Tevita Kuridrani 14, and Folau 15.
Beale wouldn’t be facing a career-defining Code of Conduct hearing, and the Wallabies wouldn’t be torn apart.
What a disgraceful mess it’s turned out to be that could have been so easily avoided.
So we await the real Ewen McKenzie story, his replacement, and hearing from Michael Hawker. This week.
paddya
Roar Rookie
Well said. Beale should never wear our national colours again - there is no place in this (or any) sport for grubby sexist behaviour like that. Hooper should be stood down as captain for showing all his 22 years of maturity by short sightedly and publicly supporting Beale in the face of his coach. And the public should remember this is not the Tahs. These people represent our country.
RaymondReddington
Roar Rookie
If you don't get the answers you expect from the hearing , why not ask Clive Palmer to request a Royal Commission to investigate the ARU and this whole sordid saga and get Jacqui Lambie to chair the proceedings , Georgina could be the court reporter and Alan Jones could appear as character witness for the ARU board , also ,the Greens can put a submission to ban International Rugby on carbon footprint grounds ..... this is a complete farce , can we all get back to rugby ??????? The EOYT is a week away , should be very interesting to see what the Wallabies Squad are really made of after the cracker of a match at Suncorp . The NRC Finals loom to conclude what has been an enjoyable spectacle .... and don't worry about Cheika , he has successfully navigated the fashion industry which is far more cut-throat than rugby (but less parochial) .
trashcan
Guest
WBs better off without KB also don't need QC or Toomua either at 10 or 12 Drop White play Genia / Phipps, Foley, Speight, Leilefano, Kuridrani, Tomane, AAC, / Horne, Folau Cheika needs to be coach. Not White.
Dave
Guest
Gee, I live in SA where there is a reputation for crass, boorish behaviour. However we have strict labour laws with due process. If a senior employee sent an email about a female colleague they would probably pack their desk before the disciplinary hearing. I feel the same would happen in a Aus or NZ company. What I find surprising is that the senior players defended Beale and put Link in a worse position Maybe dismissal was a step to far... But Beale needed sending home pending the Disciplinary
OJP
Guest
too true Harry; too true. I well remember EM using the media to advance his claims to the top job ...we all remember his S15 record against NZ teams don't we, because he pointed it out to us... I cant say I was a fan of EM, but I did feel a wee bit of compassion for him on Sat night; there is only so much pressure a person can withstand, regardless of how tough they happen to be. Would have been much better for him to have had the Wallabies hang on for the W (obviously) and then drop his bombshell with a bit of 'stuff youse all' bravado. Final thought; in real life, I have a job that involves amongst other things, taking out the organisational trash. When someone is really caught out badly and they know the axe is hovering, often the smartest thing they can do is 'exit stage left' before all the allegations get aired and future career prospects are irrevocably damaged. Some are savvy enough to see this; others not so. I certainly don't know why EM resigned (am yet to read his book) but the circumstances are 'cherry ripe' for speculation and innuendo are they not ? Faced with a similar set of circumstances, we, in the organisational trash business, having marched someone or accepted their timely resignation, either pretend like nothing happened (only possible if the situation involves small fry) or get on the front foot and fill the void with a message that is not defamatory and wont get us sued, but none the less makes it crystal clear that some stuff is just not tolerated in a workplace. It all pains me though; I come to here to get away from work and I much prefer reading blokes arguing about wether Higgers plays too wide, why AAC doesn't pass (or is that an urban myth) who was the better centre out of Smokin Joe Stanley and Frank Bunce and forgive me for my relative lack of Bok reference points, but I do also wonder who had the worse case of white line fever... Corne Krige or Schalk Burger ?
Magic Sponge
Guest
NSW won the S15 scored the points against the abs but yeah overrated cancer. Wtf the tahs are keeping the wallabies competitive and get over this nsw conspiracy crap. Link obviously did stuff that he regrets, either losing players respect with his selections, his on field half time stuff and his support for incompetent staff. Link and Pulver should have been upfront and dispelled rumours by telling the truth, but he did not. Move on and enjoy the ride. Cheika will unite this wallaby team
handles
Guest
Had 6 good months left in him though. Is the story about Nick Farr-Jones "captain's talk" in his book? Where he convinced Jones that he needed a few minutes at the start of the game and/or half time without the coach present.
Harry Jones
Expert
When public figures attack the "media" I tend to distrust whatever next comes out of their mouths. Just tell your story. Don't build mythical monolithic enemies. Link has a version of him and Di and Beale. Tell it. Or don't. He used media skills on the way up; now he gets to experience the other side of it.
Wobbly
Guest
Can't read this Lord crap anymore. NSW is the cancer on Australian Rugby and NSW cheerleader hacks like Lord are the malignant cells.
Cal Retinin
Guest
Please provide evidence that Link "white anted" Deans. Yes, yes, of course all those suggestions of marital infidelity. Now I remember! PS I do not think Cheika has been white anting Link either.
Cal Retinin
Guest
Good thinking JC!!! Indeed what is the point of test matches? Why not install the top Super Rugby side from each of the SANZAR countries, intact, as their national team. The Tri-Nations trophy for 2014 (sorry Argentina) can now be awarded to the Australian Wally-Tahs, without a single game being played. Saves on all that pesky travel!
Rob B
Guest
When Cruden was out drinking late, he was rubbed out of the nz tour and not picked again for the last test. N Z dealt with the discipline swiftly and not one player in the All Blacks squad said a thing about him being treated harshly, nor any evidence of a clique in the team ganging up on the coach or management. The senior players made clear to him his behaviour was unacceptable. Contrast the culture at the Wallabies. We had the captain (Hooper) and the vice captain (A A C) publicly say he should stay in the team directly undermining the coach and management. Which team is winning the games? The issue is not about selections. It is about character and regard for excellence and decency to be shown by the senior players. Wallabies have none.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
What points no offence you didn't really make any.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Kurley allegedly sent those texts in June to (mostly) his Waratah team mates.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
I for one welcome our new NSW overlords and will be supporting the Walla-Tahs
Magic Sponge
Guest
how good are the wallabies going to be with Cheika. You Beauty, awesome we can take this out now. The Abs are not that great with cheika on board
Hertryk
Guest
That's what he said!
Hertryk
Guest
That's what he said!
Hertryk
Guest
I bet you would! Spending lots of money on signings and then get Link back! What a fantastic position to be in! I'd be concerned if I was R. graham! :)
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Mike : the sentiments involved in team culture is difficult to explain. it was indeed reported that the players did not like White at Sharks, whereas he was honored at Brumbies (and would be still blaming ARU for the dead rope they gave him regarding the OZ job). not many coaches can get along with professional players at the very high levels. Maa Nonu for example is known to have issues with Hammett. Cooper had issues with Deans. Gavin Henson had issues with everyone :) John Mitchell also had issues coaching in SA. the most successful coaches are those who can manage players well and get the best out of them . the 7S coach of NZ is the front runner in that department. i think coaching now is more difficult , in this internet age. everything u do and ur opponents do can be analysed in detail and then it becomes a hard sell for a coach to get the players to accept a style, particularly if the results are not great. Brumbies liked him coz the style worked for them and got them to a high position. it maybe a difrent thought process for sharks :)