One of these days, between 10am last Saturday morning and the release of Ewen McKenzie’s eventual book detailing his side of the story, ARU CEO Bill Pulver will realise all is not right at the pointy end of Australian rugby.
Not even the now-likely appointment of Waratahs Coach Michael Cheika, with a possible dream team of Stephen Larkham and Michael Foley as Wallabies assistants, can paper over the canyon-sized cracks in the administration of the game in this country.
Pulver’s extraordinary press conference follow-up on Saturday night, where he laid blame upon the media, and then the rugby public for the “character assassination” of McKenzie would’ve been funny if Pulver wasn’t absolutely serious.
While my initial reaction was to wonder where this spirited (attempted) defence of McKenzie was ten days ago, it quickly turned to one of disbelief that Pulver was yet again missing the elephant-sized point behind all the media reporting over the last fortnight.
Worse still, Pulver continued down this road of point-missing on Sunday, where in a press conference designed to show that team and head office were looking ahead, there was again not a skerrick of responsibility being taken by captain and especially CEO.
Don’t get me wrong, the reporting of the current mess has been relentless, and in some quarters it’s been more personal than it needed to be. But no matter what you think of what was written, who wrote it, and in what state it was published, the reporting should have been seen for the major questions it has raised – and continues to raise – about the governance of rugby in this country.
And if Pulver can’t see that the reporting has highlighted massive problems and shortcomings within the ARU, then he should prepare himself for some serious questioning of his position, too.
Pulver and the ARU’s handling of this whole affair has been 25 shades of disappointing.
The current management has now presided over the departure of two very good coaches, both of whom have fallen victim to back-room dealings and varying degrees of player factionalism.
Yet Pulver and Michael Hooper both denied on Sunday that McKenzie had lost the dressing room, a view shared by numerous former teammates turned commentators.
Those denials and that disbelief from all of them is very noble, but it’s worth remembering that it’s still the one and only reason cited so far for McKenzie stepping down. There were “a number of things” McKenzie said he had outlined in his resignation letter, but that was the only reason given when ‘taken up with Bill’.
Cheika looks set to be appointed, with all the confirmation needed coming last night when he answered, “Who wouldn’t be?”, to the question of whether he was excited to be approached to coach the Wallabies.
Cheika did his best to play things down, but his refreshing honesty often failed him.
“There are a few things to be ironed out, obviously the logistics, etcetera. Everything is so close, so we will see how it goes and work it out from there,” Cheika said to reporters waiting for him at the Waratahs headquarters.
There’s little doubt Cheika’s approach to the game and his preference for how it should be played offer the easiest transition for the playing group and game plan employed by McKenzie. If it can be worked out so that Larkham and Foley join him in a New Zealand-style triumvirate approach, it may just be the best possible solution the ARU could possibly have stumbled upon, even without the sudden urgency.
Whether the three men will coach their respective Super Rugby teams in 2015 remains to be seen, and is no doubt one of the many things to be ironed out. I wouldn’t be overly worried if they do, as long as the Wallabies planning is overseen properly and is not compromised by provincial pursuits, even if that means installing an overarching ‘Director of Rugby’ type role.
However, this sudden and admittedly ideal response to Saturday night’s drama cannot absolve Pulver and the ARU board of their mismanagement of the entire Beale-Di Patston situation, nor should Cheika’s likely appointment save Beale’s backside.
The fact that the Beale camp was able to delay the code of conduct hearing until after the Wallabies squad has left for Europe on Friday is just one of many cock-ups in this whole mess. Beale should’ve been dealt with two days after returning from Argentina, whether he and his manager were ready or not. He should now be reflecting on what his idiotic actions have cost him, not dictating terms.
Instead, where do you think the leaked detail within that “character assassination” came from?
Pulver only needs to see how Cheika’s complete control at the Waratahs has forced change at Moore Park. It’s well documented that he doesn’t suffer fools, and continual mismanagement and the absence of a proper support structure are unlikely to be tolerated for long.
The penny has to drop soon. Too many things have happened in and around the Wallabies on Pulver’s watch for this latest development to be seen as an anomaly.
No matter what happens on or off the field, the buck has to stop with him, however much responsibility he shifts elsewhere. That’s the point of a CEO, and it’s why he ultimately makes the decisions.
Deb
Guest
Yes, Mr Pulver, we all have been betrayed by a management which not only has not shown adequate support for the coach, but which ironically has probably understood less about the where-to-from here for Australian rugby from the grass up than many of the supporters. Managers are not paid to fail. Look to the structure of the sport of rugby to see how to nurture from the grass up. Look to Jake White to see that winning games by the best game plan, different in each case, can win supporters.
Al
Guest
Phipps is our best 9 by a long way - running, tackling, passing - all very good. And he leaves those stupid box kicks in the box where they belong. Genia has lacked spark for a season or more.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I am not quite so crazy as you think... Everyone keeps saying the players were upset by her? I was asking who were the players? So you tell me... who were the players that she upset? Next one, why was it those players who had issue? As I said, no one else had any issues... so what was their problem, whoever they are?
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
Not everything is black and white in real life?? Whaaaat? When was I going to be told?
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
Is just a damned shame that General C is not in circulation and able to take the reins at the ARU himself. A bit of true leadership, straight talking, no-BS and managerial competence would be a breath of fresh air through the bunker in St Leonard's and Australian rugby generally.
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
Not fraud RK, but certainly unprofessional, misleading, disingenuous and generally poor form. Certainly not the kind of behaviour I would look favourably if I were considering employing someone.
Matt
Guest
I'm sure Richard Branson agrees with you..... Just because people don't go to uni doesn't mean they aren't educated, in fact I've found people with attitudes like yours are more likely to fail at making a successful career.
Hasbeenflanker
Guest
Hooper says McKenzie had playing groups support but was steadfast in support of Beale.....? Pulver has made mistakes all along in handling this then blames media.......talk about not seeing the forest for the trees....... Cheika on Spring Tour to test his mettle at the level. I rate him but I think we should have more quality assistants leading into World Cup year. And don't tell me there isn't money to call on for the ARU..........start calling Hawker, start employing
Dahl
Guest
Haha. Arguments about arguments from years ago. You guys should get married!
Jack
Guest
Bryan I also think Genia,Cooper and Speight are taken and given game time.Whoever EW had in his squad should be on the plane.Izzy should be moved to the wing where he started as a wallaby and before Beale's stuff up he could have played in his best position at fullback,with him out of the tour AAC could play at the back.Izzy is a natural winger because more often than not he does not pass the ball and as many comments in this media over past few days pointed out his positional play was not up to scratch in defence.Selectors must get past the fact that a player must be picked even if not playing up to standard and Izzy has not been able to do what he has been picked for..On the coaching matter regardless of where you live NSW already has too much say and over the years they have had the best team on paper but have not been able to win a completion until this year.In my opinion a good coach should be able to take a team of good to ver age players and turn them into a champion team,most coaches can take a team consisting of the best available and win a competition,that is not to say that Cheika has not done a good job. Finally why should our National team be dictated to by an organisation which has difficulty in running itself both on and off the field.
Buk
Guest
Thanks Sheek. Appreciate your insight into things over there.
Buk
Guest
Yes fair enough, good point Mike. I guess I am going a bit over the edge wondering if sanity has departed in a number of processes.
HarryT
Guest
You are making too much sense bennalong.
JB
Guest
Foley is killing it, all for Genia being in the squad and when fit and in form is by far our best 9, but foley on form is ahead of cooper and comparing the two at this time in their respective test careers, foley has produced a lot more quality against quality opposition
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
I agree - ludicrous to pull the race card. You honestly think it would be any different if it were, as an example, JOC? Both have form as idiots with terrible personal judgement and a history of misbehaving on the booze. Skin colour has nothing to do with it and you do yourself a disservice by arguing that it does.
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
How is she not qualified? She is a journalist of some experience and has a love of rugby. If you remove the former, you would probably sweep up a good percentage of the people who contribute here. One of my best mates, Matt Laffan, son of a former NSW coach, Dick Laffan, wrote passionately on rugby for the SMH for years and, by dint of his dedication to the sport and as a barrister with the DPP, he was selected to become a member of the SANZAR judiciary. Matt had been in a wheelchair since he was 5 and had never been able to slip on a pair of boots, as much as he would have loved to. Sadly, Matt died in 2009 but will remain as one the finest men I had ever known and unquestionably the most devoted and knowledgeable on the subject of rugby. He had no apparent qualifications either, however it certainly didn't stop him from making excellent journalistic contributions to the sport. Might be worth keeping that in mind before you make further such judgements?
Mukhtar
Guest
As long as egoistic players do not insult the backroom staff because there was 'ambiguity' over their role in the team. Curiously enough, couldn't this ambiguity be a criticism of a 100-Test veteran like Swoop?
Justin Mahon
Guest
It's not just the cash laden AFL that have these staff, even the much more modest FFA have in-house Counsel, an integrity unit, a national Technical Director with a full State network of TD's, regional Skills Aquisition Programs, integrated State Institutes, a National Centre of Excelence and National Curriculum, Coaching and Ioficiating education programs with national directors and much much more. These are not 'bells and whistles' - they are core governance and performance structures. Arguably more so in sports with global orientations. On communications, just as a very small example, compare the online media and communications of the FFA with the ARU - it's light years ahead.You don't need the cash of the AFL to spend what you have on what you need. You just need to be strategic.
Son of Yoda
Guest
Beal had, by stating that McKenzie knew about the texts when McKenzie stated he didn't, effectively called McKenzie a liar. Hooper publicly sided with Beal. No wonder Hooper couldn't look Mckenzie in the eye at the press conference after the game. Player power is one issue, manager power is another. How much of the information fed to the SMH was by Beal's and Falou's manager. How much of the strategy to divide the players in their support for the coach or Beal or to denigrate Patson was directed by Beals management and legal advisor?
Ball'n'all
Guest
But the reason is relevant..... duh