Investigation into player behaviour clouds Wallabies Test preparations

[travelling_gerry]

June 24, 2009

Mystery surrounds an Australian Rugby Union investigation into player misbehaviour as the Wallabies prepare for Saturday night's Test against France.

The ARU has confirmed it is conducting "inquiries" into a possible breach of a team's rule and the players' code of conduct.

But the governing body is remaining tight-lipped about whether the situation potentially involves the Wallabies, a Super 14 team or a lower level side.

Website reports have suggested four leading players are involved.

"We're currently conducting inquiries into potential breaches around team protocol and/or the code of conduct," an ARU said.

"At this stage those inquiries are continuing.

"We won't be commenting further or going into detail while we're doing that."

France on Wednesday named a formidable side, despite a host of changes, for Saturday night's ANZ Stadium showdown.

The Wallabies have put in extra work to try to nullify the lethal rolling maul of the French, but also signalled they would try to match the northern hemisphere sides in using the tactic as a weapon of their own.

That has becoming possible again after the experimental law allowing the maul to be pulled down was thrown out.

"Something we didn't have in that Test in Paris (last November) was the rolling maul and, as you've seen against the All Blacks, they've used that very effectively, so that's something that's going to be different for us now," Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore said.

"I thought we did pretty well to nullify that against Italy but I think France do it a lot better and it's going to take a big effort to stop that area of the game.

"It's probably an area we didn't work on much over the last couple of seasons for the reason that you could just pull it straight down.

"Now you can't do that any more we've had to dedicate more time to it at training, particularly against these blokes who do it very well."

Moore said the Wallabies had used a shadow pack to practice.

"It gets very heated at training and I think it's a good part of our preparation," he said.

"You know on Thursday if there's a bit of niggle in the session and guys are getting stuck into it that you're ready to go.

"The hard thing at training is trying to balance that time between defending the maul and your own attack in the maul as well so it's something that (coach) Robbie (Deans has) mentioned that we'd like to bring back in.

"These games are a chance for us to do that."

Meanwhile, Wallabies medical staff have begun assessing Australia's Tri-Nations stocks ahead of the naming of a squad for the tournament next week.

Rocky Elsom (leg), Wycliff Palu (hand) and under-20 World Cup star Rob Horne (hamstring) were checked on Wednesday, while Kurtley Beale (hamstring) is another who will be assessed.

Palu is expected to play club rugby this weekend, while doubt persists over when Elsom will be recovered from bone bruising.

AAP

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...016959,00.html

[slomo]

mmmmmmm?...

[jono]

what an informative article. gives away no information. and invites journos to go digging.

[GIGS20]

One thing for sure, the players aren't, and never were associated with the not a single mention of O'Meara, Quokkas, Firepower or the other bullshit that usually accompanies articles of this ilk

[Burgs]

I reckon it's going to be something from Japan.
If it was the Wallabies they would surely have had a leak by now and it only mentions "a team".

[TOCC]

apparently it has to do with Ashley-Cooper, Tuqiri and Hynes going to Crown Casino last week

[travelling_gerry]

Wayne Smith | June 25, 2009

Article from: The Australian

THE Australian Rugby Union is refusing to release details of its investigation into alleged breaches of team protocol and its code of conduct, as rumours persist that Wallabies flouted team rules before and after Saturday's Italy Test in Melbourne.

A number of Wallabies, including wingers Lote Tuqiri and Peter Hynes and fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, were reported to have entered Crown casino at 1.15am on Wednesday, less than four days before Hynes started on the left wing and Ashley-Cooper came off the bench to replace him, ultimately earning the man of the match award.

Tuqiri was not named in the match 22 and on Thursday returned to Sydney to play for West Harbour against Randwick. But if he is one of the players under investigation by the ARU, he could find himself in the deepest trouble of all.

The 67-Test veteran, reputedly Australian rugby's highest-paid player, was issued with a final warning letter after being involved in a late-night drinking session at the Wallabies' hotel in August 2007, after which one of his drinking companions allegedly assaulted a taxi driver.

He was placed under a one-man curfew throughout the World Cup campaign, but distinguished himself with his behaviour throughout the tournament.

But while he was used in nine of Australia's 14 Tests last year, he has not even been required as a bench player for any of the Wallabies' three matches so far this season and indications are only a rash of injuries might save his Test career.

His reported late-night visit to the casino came after the team for the Second Test against Italy had already been announced and so was not a factor in his exclusion. But certainly his continued relegation back to club rugby hints that he has lost support of the ARU top echelon.

There have also been reports of a post-Test drinking binge involving a number of players, but with team officials circling the wagons yesterday and the ARU insisting no details of its investigation would be made public - possibly for another day or two - there is endless scope for speculation.

The Wallabies, meanwhile, are intent on blitzing Saturday's one-off Test against France at ANZ Stadium - or as their opponents more eloquently are terming it "le Stade Olympique de Sydney" - right from the kickoff to take Gallic passion out of the equation.

"The more success the French have, the more it fires them up," Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore said yesterday.

"That's why the start is so important, because we have to knock that out of them."

Specifically, the Australians have focused on improving not just their speed to the breakdown but their physicality once over the ball to counteract French captain Thierry Dusautoir and fellow backrower Fulgence Ouedraogo, both of whom were brutally effective in Les Bleus' two Tests against the All Blacks over the past fortnight.

Compared to the way the French have cleaned out the breakdown, the Wallabies have been decidedly tame and they will need some of their key forwards, most especially second-rower James Horwill and number eight Richard Brown, to display some old-fashioned mongrel if they are to compete there on Saturday.

While the Wallabies have no doubt France will up the ante in terms of the physical contest, in the lead-up to the match the visitors seem to be intent on outdoing themselves in lavishing praise on their opponents.

Initially, the French camp was "only" suggesting the Wallabies were a superior team to the All Blacks but now Dusautoir has gone one step further.

"Australia is now the best team in the south, although South Africa impressed me against the Lions," Dusautoir told L'Equipe. "The Australians have very few weaknesses."

What weaknesses they once had are turning into strengths, with the recent form of winger Lachie Turner a prime example.

A year ago when he made his Test debut against France in Brisbane, the NSW flyer was scarcely spotted. But a year on he has caught the eye every time he has played for the Wallabies.

"He has definitely grown in confidence," Australia's skills coach Richard Graham said yesterday. "He is getting a lot more comfortable roving and looking for work."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[Burgs]

What a surprise Tuqiri was invloved
Glad it wasn't the young fellas os anyway.

[shasta]

JO'N "Right Lote that was your last chance we're looking at tearing up your contract"

Lote (on the cell phone)....."Yeah that's right Les get back to Bruno Cullen and see if they can match the offer from Toulon.......sorry, JON. You were saying?."

[GIGS20]

JO'N "Mate if you can get anybody in the World to pay more than we do for dropping balls over the tryline, playing out of position and pissing it up late at night, sign the contract!"

[brokendown gunfighter]

JO'N "Mate if you can get anybody in the World to pay more than we do for dropping balls over the tryline, playing out of position and pissing it up late at night, sign the contract!"

I used to do all of that for nothing

[jargan83]

I used to do all of that for nothing

sold yourself short then

[TOCC]

if this whole thing is about 3 players going to the casino 4 days before a test match, then what a load of crap..

seriously who cares if they did, maybe if it was the night before a test against England(Elton Flatley, 2003) and he doesnt return home, but that doesnt seem the case unless there is more to the story.

[AndyS]

Well, drinking on Wednesday sure seemed to bugger up AAC's preparation for playing on Saturday...

[fulvio sammut]

I'm with you TOCC.