McKenzie galvanises Wallabies: Pulver
By Ben Horne,
AAP
Updated December 9, 2013, 2:42 pm
The Wallabies' boozy culture has come to an end under new coach Ewen McKenzie, according to Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver.
Cricket Australia's line in the sand moment failed miserably earlier this year in India, but Pulver says McKenzie's decisive action on the recent spring tour had galvanised the team.
Pulver said he was consulted by McKenzie over the standing down of six players for breaking curfew in Dublin, and backed the national coach for his attitude to discipline and culture.
For a number of years, the Wallabies have been plagued by late-night incidents involving high profile players like James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper.
But since McKenzie took over from Robbie Deans as coach, action against O'Connor and then the `Dublin Six' indicates a harder line.
When CA stood down four players for the third cricket Test in Mohali in March, it bred distrust in the camp and brought about accusations of double standards, with coach Mickey Arthur eventually losing his job.
But Pulver said the ARU had no hesitation in making a statement over the difference between "right and wrong" and believes players have responded well.
"There's no question in my mind that elite athletes don't go out drinking after midnight on the week of a Test match, period," Pulver told AAP.
"They know that. I rate that as one isolated incident where there was an error in judgment.
"I don't expect it to happen again and for us to have serious disciplinary issues going forward.
"Just needed to make a point about what we found acceptable and what we didn't and that's been done.
"... The squad was certainly galvanised."
McKenzie said his action worked because it was "dealt with decisively and up front with no subterfuge."
The Wallabies won seven out of 15 Tests in 2013 and Pulver said that wasn't good enough.
However, he's confident Australia have the players and now the coach to topple the All Blacks.
"I don't think (this year) is a pass mark. But I'm very impressed with how Ewen's approached the job, focused on discipline, culture and individuals being accountable," he said.
"There's no lack of talent. I think we have the players to be the best team in the world. Now we've got to get the rugby program wrapped around fulfilling their potential.
"There's no silver bullet. Being Wallabies head coach is a tough job.
"We want to win and entertain."
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