Ewen McKenzie Resignation

[Brumby Runner]

Pulver was weak in my opinion when he rushed out the Beale text story. There are a whole bunch of reasons why it might have been a good idea. Unless there is a real good story to be told in the end I think he should have sucked up the pressure and kept some control over events. As opposed to no control.

Ok, so after some preliminary investigations, Pulver became aware of the inglorious text messages and images. It seems that he, and his advisers, then concluded that there was an issue much worse than the argument on the plane to be dealt with. Apparently, the appropriate manner for dealing with that larger issue was through a Code of Conduct investigation, a process that I understand was agreed with RUPA following previous discipline issues.

What was he meant to do then. Not tell the public, us, that the matter of the plane argument had been deferred and not tell us about the further investigation? That would have led to very loud protests from those of us who might then have seen it as a means of getting Beale off the hook. There probably wouldn't have been any other logical explanation. And for those journos who might have had an inkling of the further matters, wouldn't that have been ripe pickings for further scandal mongering. Things would only have been worse imo.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Yeah BR that should resolve the lack of transparency so many harp on about.

 

[Quick Hands]

For all the what ifs, etc with Link, one thing is clear to me, there is a problem within the squad, Link said as he announced he was stepping down he indicated he didn't have support of senior members of the team. This is not because of Beale, Patson or what was in press, as a unified team would of come out and supported Link post haste!! The press conference with Pulver and Hooper, I thought gave the impression that Pulver was very angry and rightly supported Link, and Hoopers was the worst expresiion of support for a coach I have heard. Take note Steve Moore came out and said he thought Link was a terrific coach, did we hear even anything slightly like that from Hooper?? No!! There in a nutshell is why Aussie is seeking a new coach!! Perhaps most a happy with all this player power stuff, but personally if that kind of crap happened in a team I supported I would be very disappointed!! hooper would certainly not be leading team if I was in position to change it!
Anyway my little rant over, as I've said before I just an old bugger who believes in loyalty to coach and team is very important!

But did Pulver really support Link? There was no acknowlegement of this by Link at the press conference. In fact this omission suggests the exact opposite.

Link looked a broken man - facial expression, body language and tone of voice. IMO this doesn't come from copping a pasting in the media, this comes when you feel that you have been personally betrayed.

 

[PiXeL_Ninja]

Phenomenal way to build up hype for his book, which I suspect is already half finished by now.

When is Cheika being announced as the new coach?

 

[Quick Hands]

Ok, so after some preliminary investigations, Pulver became aware of the inglorious text messages and images. It seems that he, and his advisers, then concluded that there was an issue much worse than the argument on the plane to be dealt with. Apparently, the appropriate manner for dealing with that larger issue was through a Code of Conduct investigation, a process that I understand was agreed with RUPA following previous discipline issues.

What was he meant to do then. Not tell the public, us, that the matter of the plane argument had been deferred and not tell us about the further investigation? That would have led to very loud protests from those of us who might then have seen it as a means of getting Beale off the hook. There probably wouldn't have been any other logical explanation. And for those journos who might have had an inkling of the further matters, wouldn't that have been ripe pickings for further scandal mongering. Things would only have been worse imo.

I'll reserve my judgement until we see the final report. I must say that I'm highly sceptical of anything agreed to by the RUPA and the ARU.

A militant trade union and a weak adminstration don't usually benefit anyone but themselves.

 

[Muglair]

BR as I said I am sure there are a whole number of good reasons for Pulver to come out and magically attempt to reduce all of this mess into a single player/single incident. It has not come off and like QH we can all wait and see what the outcome is. I have expressed my opinion, he has needlessly locked in a narrow range of possible response when he does not have all the possible outcomes of the enquiries locked in.

The only way he can come up with an outcome acceptable to the full range of opinions on these threads (which must reasonably reflect the range of opinions within our game) is full disclosure of everything. That in itself is not necessarily going to be a great outcome for everyone. While saying nothing may have set off a further storm it currently looks pretty windy here to me.

 

[It is what it is]

I'll reserve my judgement until we see the final report. I must say that I'm highly sceptical of anything agreed to by the RUPA and the ARU.

A militant trade union and a weak adminstration don't usually benefit anyone but themselves.

Why the angst with RUPA QH?

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I hope Link isn't lost to rugby, but he probably has every right to feel somewhat bitter towards the game.

After some time out, I'd hope that he can find a suitable role somewhere in Rugby, without any of the Bealegate baggage.

It is not as if there is an oversupply of competent coaches out there in Rugbyland.

I wish him all the best for his future endeavours.

Even though the timing was of his own choosing, he probably deserved a much better send off from Australian Rugby than this.

 

[Gillys_ghost]

attacked? Was it really that bad? One stupid Journo asked him a question if he had a intimate relationship with Patson at a press conference and a few articles were written.

In 2 weeks time no one would remember Patson, and if the EOYT was a success McKenzie would be praised for that in the media again. He should know this is how media works.

I thought the media coverage the last couple of weeks were mainly pointed at Beale not McKenzie.

And by the way, if that is the reason, he should have been clear from the start what Patsons role was to the media to avoid speculation. He did not handle the situation well at all and it resulted in the media snowballing it out of control.

I Know you Posted this a while back, and im still catching up so i dont know if someone has already replied to this comment but you should probably read this article by Andrew webster which i think was one of the worse ones but not the only one.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/a...n-rugbys-biggest-problem-20141013-115aan.html

 

[Westie]

Will be interesting to read Ewen's book when it's published.

Can't wait. Hope he lays open every little bloody thing.

 

[Paradox]

Who's bullying who?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...mplicit-bullying/story-fngr8iii-1227096342700

 

[Westie]

David Nuciforia? Isn't he also a candidate?

Grrr

 

[refugee]

Can't wait. Hope he lays open every little bloody thing.

Hard to lay open inuendo and Lack of support

 

[Biffo]

a small matter occurs to me.
did the ARU hire a PR firm a week or so back to improve its relationships with the media and public?
if so, is there any sign of that PR firm at work?
and which is the firm?

 

[Train Without a Station]

"One unnamed senior Australian Rugby Union source reportedly said there were concerns about Hooper his leadership before Saturday’s Test with the All Blacks."

Good one Jones. Critique of performance is now bullying. This should work out well.

 

[Slim 293]

Who's bullying who?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...mplicit-bullying/story-fngr8iii-1227096342700

I had to double check the date on that piece..........

GRAND Slam winning Wallabies coach Alan Jones has described Manly Marlins star Michael Hooper

 

[Dave Beat]

I'm to busy at work to keep up with this, 15 pages between my last post and this.
Hooper on the KB (Kurtley Beale) incident, I can't recall him casting judgment on the KB (Kurtley Beale) comment - he did reference team mates though(if I recall correctly).
I've seen a lot of Hooper interviews, and I'm pleased he's the face of the Wallabies at the moment - still think he'll develop into one of Australia's best ever captains - he's only twenty fucking two.
Link is a huge loss to Australian Rugby, I don't think his commitment, coaching talent, and love of rugby could ever be questioned. No body is perfect, if it was a personal indiscretion and the media / social media that had him saying I don't need that it is a reflection on how damaging we can all be.

Loosing the player group / Player exodus thread - Link goes OS and watch that space, I think there would be a number of players who've enjoyed their rugby under Link - I've enjoyed watching the teams he's coached.

Sent from phone so hope correct

 

[Chris McCracken]

Who's bullying who?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...mplicit-bullying/story-fngr8iii-1227096342700

There have been two elements of the criticism of Hooper. One narrative has him leading a mutiny. I think that is uncalled for - especially as we have been calling for moderation on slander and speculation in the prior issues.

But Jones appears to be suggesting that criticism of Hooper's performance as captain is bullying and off-limits, as well.

That's hard to swallow.

 

[Westie]

We'll never get the real story now.
Just as the ARU declared that they would issue no further comment on Patston's employment history because she was no longer an employee of theirs, they will do exactly the same with anything relating to McKenzie.

And hopefully soon Beale, but I doubt the tahs will allow it.

 

[Westie]

I'm a pretty negative bloke, I'll admit.
I thought we'd get slaughtered last night but we didn't.
I was pretty happy with the way we played and, realistically, it came down to some brain issues which saw us abandon our running game for a kicking game, which we aren't that good at and which hasn't worked for a while.
But shit happens.
What I cannot understand, however, is the idea that people can just say that's it with the wallabies for them.
This is a manifestation of the team's internal problems, i reckon. There's no easy solutions and you don't always get to choose.
None of us get to choose where we are born and most of us grow up where our parents or fate decree and by one or other process you become Australian.
And that's it.
You don't get to choose not to be Australian - unless you really do choose and become something else, in which case good luck and see you later, to put it politely.
For better or worse I will always be an Australian and the Wallabies will therefore always be my team and they'll be good and bad and sometimes worse.
But that's what belonging to something bigger than the individual entails.

So you'll just blindly support whatever. Fuck that.