Halfback Nick Phipps has passionately denied a culture of misogyny exists in the Wallabies as the fallout from the Kurtley Beale text message scandal continues.
Beale was last week fined $45,000 for mistakenly forwarding an obscene photo to former staff member Di Patston but the scandal threatens to deepen as the Australian Rugby Union’s handling of it comes under increasing scrutiny.
Phipps admitted the controversy had been a distraction as the Wallabies embarked on their five-match tour of Europe and the players badly wanted to put it behind them.
But it was again a hot topic of discussion in London on Monday, with the Wallabies’ nominated interviewees Phipps and defence coach Nathan Grey fielding a range of questions on the issue from Australian and British reporters.
Phipps said while Beale’s actions were wrong he deserved a second chance and would be welcomed back by the players if recalled.
NSW Waratahs star Phipps also refuted a suggestion the scandal was in any way a reflection of the side’s attitude towards women.
“I have noticed a lot of people are sort of talking about people’s views on harrassment in the workplace and things like that,” Phipps ahead of Saturday’s tour opener against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
“My mum and sister would kick me in the rear end if they ever thought I was like that.
“It doesn’t reflect at all on the playing group. We’re fully supportive of women in sport and we always will be.”
Phipps added he had worked with many women in positions of power during his rugby career.
“If women are good enough to do the job I’d love them to be there. I find it funny that gender is always brought into it,” said Phipps, who said he did not know enough about Patston’s work as business manager to comment on her directly.
Beale, who reportedly intended to send the text to a teammate, escaped further punishment because an independent ARU tribunal failed to prove he was the source of a second, more offensive, text.
Patston resigned a fortnight ago and has since hit out at the investigation process and claimed she was made to feel “degraded” and “worthless”.
The ARU has come under pressure to investigate who sent the second text message and also the confrontation between Beale and Patston on a flight to Argentina last month.
Despite the lingering drama, defensive coach Grey said Beale remains a chance to join his Wallabies teammates in Europe should he prove his fitness and Phipps hopes he will be welcomed back.
“We’re all about second chances aren’t we? He’s the first to say he made a mistake. That’s well documented,” Phipps said.
“What he did wasn’t right in any way. At the end of the day, who doesn’t deserve a chance? It will be great to have him back in the fold.
“I know there are a lot of fans out there who probably aren’t happy at the moment, but time heals.”
Phipps hopes the Wallabies can get rugby back in the headlines for the right reasons when they begin life under new coach Michael Cheika, who took over Ewen McKenzie, who resigned in the wake of the scandal.
“You only have to look on Twitter and see a new article pop up about something and I guess that does affect the boys a little bit,” Phipps said.
“Hopefully over here we can play well enough to get articles written about how the boys are playing.”
Monday's Expert
Guest
I got it.
WoobliesFan
Guest
I've been trying to get it out on all threads,,,,,they're calling me a troll, mad, a lunatic. But they won't stop me...they won't stop my Roar brothers and sisters...they won't stop powerful opinion king pins like Wayne Smith. This Story is to BIG to stop.......Patston has many aces up her sleeve. Media wants blood over 2nd txt'er..... WATCH THIS SPACE!!!
WoobliesFan
Guest
I was shot down by NSW fan boys for claiming the mums and daughters are disgusted. It's the truth but the NSW fans don't care who gets destroyed or suffers in the Beale train wreck....only that he survives. But true justice will prevail. Watch the powerful media come in force. Watch the decent wallaby players (non-Tahs) voice their disgust and join forces. You can't congratulate the abuser and degrade the victim without massive consequences.
WoobliesFan
Guest
Bingo. Pack of cowards the lot of them. BUT THE Q. REMAINS ---- who is the identity of the 2nd txt'er? WHO ARE THEY PROTECTING???? WATCH THS SPACE!!!
WoobliesFan
Guest
See comment above - his anger is legendary. LOTS more to this saga to come out. Beale in serious trouble.
WoobliesFan
Guest
as far as I'm concerned he was.,....these Tah players were forged into life long friendship via fire and brimeston and they have each others backs, regardless of who they hurt or destroy. Non-Tah states need to unite factional forces and fight this NSW scourge.
WoobliesFan
Guest
Chance after chance after chance..... Phipps is too young to understand. Sometimes the best thing you'll do for a serial offender with deep underlying issues is let him fall and fall hard.....it's the only way to save him, otherwise he'll drag you down and everyone around him in a cosmic ball of flames. Cheika went to the crossroads and made a pact with the devil - Beale in the team regardless of cost to anyone else. BAD MOVE! When the devil comes calling, it's all going to go to sheet. Mark my words.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Whaaaat??
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I don't even know why the second message is even relevant when the first message should have seen him marched.
In Brief
Guest
The women in my household think McKenzie is a prat for thinking with his old fella and hiring Patston in the first place, behind the back of his wife and children. Ironically I have a female work colleague who thinks it hilarious to whisper in my ear 'would you tap that?' whenever an unattractive woman walks past. Maybe I should tape her and post the evidence to The Roar for forensic investigation..
Kuruki
Roar Guru
It has been about Beales perceived value to the game from the start. However i think this issue is going to backfire massively and keeping him around is going to cost them more in the long run then casting him aside.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
There is nothing childish about sexual harassment. It must be so frustrating for women in Australia to have sexual harassment brushed off as a childish prank and a she'l be right attitude.
In Brief
Guest
Yeah, who could forget the hamburger at 2am, refusing to eat his greens at the team dinner, not polishing the shoes prior to the John Eales award, breaking wind on the back of the bus, and sleeping on the wrong side of the bed. The list goes on.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
And people are still getting up in arms about Beale being "unfairly judged". As long as that muppet wears an Australian jersey they might as well paint their noses red and buy oversized rugby boots.
In Brief
Guest
The issue is that the text message was not the catalyst for Patston's resignation. The argument on the plane was. This was at least 3 months post text message being sent. I believe this entire episode arose because Patston was unqualified for the role. Poor recruitment is a major risk for any organisation, and this is a classic case. Patston was a victim in my mind, not of Beale, but of McKenzie who threw her in the deep end. It's always hard to turn down such an opportunity. I think McKenzie knew the error of his ways, and made a hasty retreat from his job and the whole mess he had created.
Machiavelli
Guest
There is much much more to this and everyone should listen to the Greg growden interview by Alan Jones. http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/245731.html
handles
Guest
According to Wayne Smith in The Australian today, there are 11 issues on Beale's naughty file, including several off-field violence issues. One we know about - belting his captain while pissed on the team bus, others have been successfully covered up. The other new information is that Beale was physically threatening Patston on the flight to Argentina, and Genia and CL had to intervene. Choice.
Chivas
Guest
Who said he was a good guy. I said he was not by by necessity a grub for life. Ypu on the other hand show no repentance for your vile comments. As o say how low will you stoop. Lying, making rascist or bigoted comments, slander and defamation are certainly not low enough for you. Keep reaching Jiggs. Pretty sure you can find some new low. And you talk about Savea and Beale. From someone as low life as you... hard to take you seriously. So I'm going to ignore you now and just accept that pieces of trash like you patrol web sites like this, more's the pity.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Misogyny has many shades from pathological dislike down to casual indifference. A better comparison would be if one of the Hockeyroos had been caught sending a gross image of an obese man referencing a male staff member. It would suggest a complete lack of respect for the individual and some gender bias. Women certainly face fewer gender-based problems in modern day workplaces than in times past, but don't for a minute think it's all fine everywhere. And there are some female dominated workplaces where men have faced gender-based bullying. It happens. If your mum ever spent time working in a male dominated workplace, spend some time talking to her about what it was like back in the day, and then ask yourself if that is what you want your daughters to face when they start their careers. It's OK to want things to keep improving. And it's OK to want national sporting teams to set good examples for the rest of society. People will make mistakes from time to time. The best lessons are learned in responding to those mistakes.
Iwillnotstandby
Guest
No, it means he is a dick. In the case of Di Patston, what he sent also included a reference to her gender and the act of copulation, thereby reducing her to a sexual object. That is one way of being misogynist. Another would be some of the commentary that has been made about "why would you employ a woman" or comments about her crying and that being a woman thing. If Kurtley had sent a text that said "Di is not qualified to do whatever we think she is meant to be doing and she bugs the crap out of me as a person" that would have been ok even if not sent to the people that should be able to take action on those concerns. He should never have reduced the argument to gender.