George Gregan, Test rugby’s most-capped player, has commended Ewen McKenzie for his early and hard-line stance to improve Wallabies culture.
While McKenzie has shocked many by suspending six players and putting nine others on notice for a late night out in Dublin, former Wallabies skipper Gregan supported the coach for his no-nonsense approach to ensuring higher team standards.
After several seasons where senior players became increasingly disenchanted with previous coach Robbie Deans’ forgiving attitude toward wayward stars James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale, McKenzie has unleashed on the current end-of-season tour.
Despite there being no public complaints or police involvement, 15 players copped the brunt of their new mentor’s displeasure for breaking team protocols by staying out past midnight and drinking in Dublin last week.
There was a day off from training (on Wednesday) to follow, and the Wallabies went on to produce their best performance of a disappointing year by thumping Ireland 32-15, but nothing is being brushed under the carpet.
McKenzie laid a firm marker down as he attempts to put his slipping world No.4-ranked side back on track well before the 2015 World Cup.
“The easiest thing to do in these situations is to do nothing,” McKenzie said in Edinburgh. “But to do nothing will give you mediocrity.
“Everyone wants to win a World Cup but it’s the behaviours that will get you there. You have to concentrate on the behaviours.
“It (culture) is the glue that actually binds a team together. It’s what is going to make a difference.
“Every team I have been involved with before, if you can manage a team culture and get a strength in that area it can give you the advantage you need to be a championship side.”
Starting wingers Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins and forward reserves Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson and Liam Gill have been stood down for Saturday’s clash with Scotland while prop Paddy Ryan will serve his one-match suspension the following week for the tour finale against Wales.
Players have been barred from speaking to the media but it’s understood some are unhappy with what they see as an overly-harsh reaction.
Gregan, inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame on Tuesday (AEDT), said all Wallabies players should be well aware of the standards expected off the field.
“You are always on display as a Wallaby and people are watching you and there’s a certain level of expectation when you are representing the Wallabies,” said 139-Test halfback Gregan, who recently stood down from the ARU board.
“Culture is based on behaviour and he’s setting that down very, very early and that’s one of the things you have to commend him for…players will get an understanding of what’s expected.
“If you don’t it’s not good for the team environment.”
Although their starting forward pack will remain intact, Australia’s backline has been thrown into disarray for the Test against the Scots.
The bans to the two wingers, plus a likely suspension to centre Tevita Kuridrani for his dangerous tackle on the weekend, will force McKenzie to be creative in his three-quarter line selections.
But he said rugby needed to present its best possible image to its fans and the general public in a highly-competitive sporting market or suffer the consequences.
“There’s a flow on (affect),” he said. “These things don’t drift along in the background because in the end they bite you.”
