Kurtley Beale woes distracting Wallabies ahead of All Blacks clash
Australia face New Zealand in Bledisloe Cup with their camp in disarray from scandal
Off-field distractions are overshadowing the build-up to tomorrow's Bledisloe Cup clash in Brisbane with the Wallabies in a state of chaos and the All Blacks exiling a key playmaker.
Two months ago Australia were good enough to hold New Zealand to a 12-12 draw, but it will be a big ask for them to match that effort following losses to South Africa and Argentina in their last two matches and a meltdown in team unity.
Kurtley Beale is in disgrace over a text scandal and coach Ewen McKenzie is under pressure for a worsening win-loss record.
Anyone who has played sport will know there’s no such thing as a dead rubber. Your pride doesn’t allow that for a start. You’re playing for your country
The players have rallied around Beale, but are said to be divided in their support for McKenzie.
All is not smooth in the All Blacks camp either. Disgraced fly-half Aaron Cruden, the heir apparent to Dan Carter, served a two-match suspension for missing a flight to Argentina after excessive drinking only to find he is still not wanted.
Although the fixture is listed as a Bledisloe Cup match, the All Blacks already have that locked away for another year after thrashing Australia 51-20 in the second test of the three-match series.
But All Blacks coach Steve Hansen rejects any suggestion there is nothing at stake.
"Anyone who has played sport will know there's no such thing as a dead rubber. Your pride doesn't allow that for a start. You're playing for your country," he said.