McKenzie stays defiant amid player discontent
Print Edition
EMBATTLED coach Ewen McKenzie told disgruntled Wallabies to voice their concerns to him amid reports of player unrest ahead of this weekend’s Test against the All Blacks.
The fallout from the Kurtley Beale text scandal has put McKenzie’s position under scrutiny at a time when his success rate has slumped to 52 percent from his 21 Tests in charge.
McKenzie said he wasn’t interested in any desire to be loved by his players, but he wanted their respect.
“It hasn’t been easy, but that’s life,” McKenzie said after naming his team to face New Zealand in the final Bledislow Cup Test in Brisbane on Saturday.
“My job is to get a group of people to play with purpose and get an outcome on the weekend. Is it about a popularity contest? It can’t be. Because the only people who will like you will be 15 in the starting team.
“I don’t care. I actually want them to respect me. They will respect me for being consistent and honest and actually dealing with them face to face.”
After back-to-back losses away to South Africa and Argentina and still looking for his first victory over the All Blacks, McKenzie said his future would be driven by results.
McKenzie has been subjected to rumblings since installing former Queensland Reds business manager Di Patston in the same role within the national team structure.
He has made two starting changes for the dead-rubber Bledisloe Test match, plus recalling a fit-again Quade Cooper on the bench.
Both Cooper and Christian Leali’ifano, to start at inside centre while Rob Simmons (head knock) returns to lock, said the coach had the team’s support.
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