When I heard about Di Patston and Kurtley Beale’s argument on the plane, my initial thought was that it had to be a storm in a teacup.
Not having been clued in by any of those anonymous ‘sources’ that people seem to hate, it seemed light on.
People argue. They’re travelling. They’re tired. They’re professional footballers and managers of professional footballers, they’ll make up and get over it.
That was until one of the aforementioned sources brought it to my attention that this was going to be the biggest rugby story this year, and that people in high places would go down for this.
In light of my feelings before, I struggled to believe how an argument between a player and a team manager, which surely occur all the time, in all sports across the world, could be this substantial. But as I found out more, and dug a little deeper, it became very clear that this story really was going to be the biggest in Australian rugby this year.
Innocuous argument on the surface; symptom of a number of greater problems underneath.
The first, and most obvious to everyone, is the inappropriate behaviour and deeply sexist actions of a Wallabies player.
Had Kurtley Beale been playing in another competition, he would have copped a similar fine, but also a ban, and would likely have been instructed to complete one or a number of educational courses in workplace standards and expectations. To be fair, I expect the ARU are imposing something similar on him right now.
The difference is that another organisation would have punished him when the incident occurred.
It appeared at first that Kurtley was the root of the problem, the toxic element that needed harsh treatment. It all centred around a sexist and deeply offensive act that demanded to be acted on. The messages to emerge were on someone’s phone, and they were incriminating.
I was assured appearances can be deceiving. Kurtley was a problem, and his behaviour inexcusable, but there was more to it than that. Much more.
When the text messages were revealed, along with it came the admission that this problem, this act, had been allowed to fester for months within the environment of the Wallabies.
Was Patston’s act one of nobility? Not confessing the crimes of a player who had wronged her certainly seems like an admirable thing to do.
The issue is less about nobility and more indicative of a culture that plagues rugby in Australia. From the ARU, to the media, everyone is guilty of too much gabbing, manoeuvring and politicking, and too little action in addressing the actual problem.
In this case, there was clear player discomfort with the role Ms Patston was playing in the team. There was talk of Ewen McKenzie losing the dressing room because of it. If that’s the case, rightly or wrongly on the part of the players, then the loss of both McKenzie and Patston was inevitable.
Of course, all of this goes back to another instance of what I’m talking about, but there’s more to come out from both McKenzie and Patston on this.
So what needed and needs to be done to address the problem?
The word I’ve heard come up a lot in relation to this is culture. A culture of taking on problems head-on is the first thing that springs to mind.
Where was the proactive media release? Where was the coach and the business manager on the front foot? Where was Kurtley’s public apology?
Giving issues like this time and breathing room only gives people more time to trot out every media pundit in existence to have their say on what’s going on within the very small inner sanctum of Australian Rugby. It gives time for rumours, both baseless, nasty, and in some cases, true, to fester and grow legs, before turning into leaks, and focussing more attention on the people at the centre of the issue.
It turns an argument on a plane into a coach, who just had his team playing some of the most exciting football in his tenure, and getting people thinking they had turned the corner, exiting stage left.
Was this waiting period at all helpful to the game, and its administration? Why was Kurtley Beale facing a tribunal four months after an offence?
Purely and simply, leadership failed on so many levels that it’s hard to point the finger of blame at just one source. That’s why culture has been trotted out so often. Leadership and culture, and leadership culture, is what needed to be fostered. Instead, every little truth was attempted to be swept under the carpet, by all people.
Curious journalists with good sources were sniffing around, and it’s clear that people in high places were all too happy to provide them with what they needed.
Mud was thrown by all sides. Most stuck, and no one was spared. Bill Pulver, Kurtley Beale, Ewen McKenzie, Di Patston, Australian rugby and the rugby media were losers. No winners came out from this saga.
No one, repeat, no one came out of this looking dignified.
Did I believe an argument on a plane was going to cause the loss of the Wallabies team business manager, the coach, and a heavy fine for a player who, five months ago, was in the best form of his life?
Should it have?
For me, the answer was a resounding no on both counts.
After talking to those scary ‘sources’, I’m not so sure everyone could have been spared. But I do believe that this issue could have been knocked on the head halfway through this year, and everyone would be a whole lot cleaner.
Appearances can be deceiving, but a lack of strong leadership led to this mess. And there’s nothing deceptive about the appearance of that, as this has been one hell of a mess.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Rebecca Wilson, please
peeeko
Roar Guru
mmm, surely they have the wallabies interest ahead of NSW? you seem to be anti NSW?
peeeko
Roar Guru
how do you know this about the waratahs pack? do you simply not like the tahs?
SandBox
Roar Guru
talking yourself up in the media, subtle threat to go overseas, that's all Queensberry rules compared to a statement that directly calls the incumbent a liar
bennalong
Guest
"Appearances can be deceiving, but a lack of strong leadership led to this mess. And there’s nothing deceptive about the appearance of that, as this has been one hell of a mess." You could have started with this. Ewen McKenzie resigned (presumably) because he was responsible for Patsten being given power without even a job description. He certainly didn't resign because of Beale She WAS leadership apparently, but the players did not understand her true role. It appears Pulver was pleased that McKenzie had secured the services of this well credentialed woman who replaced the team manager. Did she assume the role? Was she still PA? Is she a real psychologist? Did she approach Beale during the test in Argentina about a hotel bill. Did the ARU perform due diligence on Patston's credentials? Why not? Did the ARU deny Beale natural justice by delaying the tribunal?.........by not checking Patston's phone?..........by forcing Beale to appear without the presence of the accuser or the coach?.........by giving Patston Beale's defence papers presented in confidence to the tribunal? The problem is not a rude email. It's a management problem that created a maelstrom out of a misdeameanor.
roardog
Guest
mike very well said i support your comments
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
Cheers MT
Don
Roar Rookie
All but 2 players had the right gear on. The other 2 had the shirts in their carry on bags or they wouldn't have been able to change into them would they? Most players travel in mufti while on board for comfort and change into the required team attire before landing. Beale and Carter hadn't changed and were reminded they needed to. The team has full instructions on what to wear at every event and public outing. They get it in a daily briefing and emails of any changes and in the tour itinerary. Not sure if the Beale / Patston discussion on the sideline actually happened. It was reported a while ago and hasn't been repeated in print again outside of broad references to the original mention. I'd say it probably didn't happen. That said, The ARU have been inept.
Machiavelli
Guest
+1000 Absolutely BS. What Link did to deans was despicable. Live by the sword die by the sword.
Machiavelli
Guest
These are inflammatory and dare I say it ignorant comments. There are two sides to this and you are making the assumption that both Mckenzie and Patston are innocent bystanders in all of this. How do you know there was no provocation on their part and,if as innocent as you perhaps think they are, then why resign? Why not stay and fight for what you believe or to clear your name? There is more to this and not treating Beale (and Patston and Mckenzie and their rights) as you would want yours to be treated in similar circumstances, just opens Roar posts of this ilk to utter disdain and contempt. This crisis may well be the impetus needed for the ARU to adopt the professional governance structures so sadly lacking at present. If ever there is a time for the good men and women of Australian rugby, be they players, administrators or fans to stand up, then surely this is it!
RodMac
Roar Rookie
Nepotism? Red herring? Pretty sure Mckenzie and Patston aren't related; and I wouldn't call the Beale stuff a side issue. It definitely isn't the only issue, but to call it a red herring is a bit dismissive no?
jutsie
Guest
haha bs,
Ajax
Guest
There has to be more to this than meets the eye.... http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/ewen-mckenzie-bill-pulvers-future-on-the-line-if-coverup-discovered-over-di-patston/story-fnp0m104-1227090516952 Damien Quinn having a stand up row with Link over Patstons role (he resigned).. allegations she told players (one at least) their/his body language was no good.... Really, this story just gets more bizarre each day....
Machiavelli
Guest
You two are rushing to judgement on what could be flawed assumptions. There is obviously more to come. For starters you need to read this. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/waratahs-role-in-beale-outcome-just-conspiracy-theory-roger-davis/story-e6frg7o6-1227106450800. Just remember everyone has rights including Kurtley Beale.
In Brief
Guest
sounds like more of a powder puff than a carpet bomb
In Brief
Guest
No, McKenzie walked into a national team with a huge degree of hubris and over confidence. He was found to be out of his depth. He parachuted a woman into the role of team manager/ HR expert/ psychologist/ who had no qualifications for the role. McKenzie then became a victim of his own incompetence and fell on his sword.
Birdy
Guest
Have to agree with TahDan. Watching this from afar, as a pom, I've been left open-mouthed at times as the sheer incompetence of the ARU, and the seeming inability of the Aussie media to follow through effectively on obvious lines of questioning. The English RFU have the reputation as 'Old Farts', but I can guarantee the British media would have been all over this in such a way that if the English equivalent of Pulver had mismanaged incidents to this extent he'd have been out of the door long before now. Obvious questions remain. Who sent the, apparently, much worse second text - Beale? Another Wallaby? Someone else? It can't be that hard to find out, and it is absolutely the responsibility of the ARU to find out. Second; who knew what; when? Third, what were the contents of McKenzie's resignation letter? It's clear McKenzie doesn't mind them being published given his 'Ask Bill' remark. Four, who was responsible for hiring someone to be placed in a senior position in the national management set-up without doing the basic checks on credentials that a small school would do hiring a dinner lady? Admittedly, I've only paid passing attention to the story, but from a few thousand miles away it looks mind-boggling.
In Brief
Guest
Agree this whole incident would not have occurred if the Wallabies had a proper management structure in place. The ARU and McKenzie stuffed up big time.
In Brief
Guest
psst.. you can't believe everything you read in the paper...
In Brief
Guest
psst.. you can't believe everything you read in the paper...