Beale should not be sacked: Hooper

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper says Kurtley Beale does not deserve to be sacked but concedes he will have no influence on the two investigations into the troubled star.

Hooper insisted on Sunday the “team is tight” and backing besieged coach Ewen McKenzie, who has become embroiled in the fallout of Beale’s messy spat with former team business manager Di Patston.

However, Hooper revealed the squad would hold an honesty session as early as Sunday night to express their thoughts on the latest controversy so everyone was on the same page ahead of Saturday night’s third Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Brisbane.

“It is worth doing as a playing group,” Hooper said.

“We need to be honest with each other and that allows for on-field harmony.

“Once everyone is transparent then you can move forward.

“(But) the team is tight, you have got to be.”

Australian rugby appears in turmoil amid two investigations into alleged misbehaviour by Beale towards Patston – who resigned on Friday – including claims he circulated an offensive text message about her.

Asked if Beale deserved to be sacked, Hooper said: “No….(but) with that stuff it is out of our hands.

“I hope KB stays in rugby union and Australian Rugby Union.

“We are backing Kurtley.

“I enjoy having him around the team and he is quality on the field.”

Hooper said Beale, who has been stood down while under investigation, was “a bit rattled” by the latest controversy.

“KB has a chance to move away from it this week, distance himself from it,” he said.

“Speaking to the boys who have spoken to KB he is a bit rattled but he’s alright and understands the process in play at the moment.”

McKenzie is also under pressure with fears he is in danger of losing the dressing room as senior players side with Beale over the messy scandal.

McKenzie had to deny he was having an intimate relationship with Patston at a dramatic press conference last Friday.

Asked if he backed McKenzie, Hooper said: “We back everyone who is in the squad.

“And you have got to because we are about winning, and we need to get back to winning.

“I think it is a blessing in disguise that a lot of it was last week so we are able to focus on the footy stuff.

“At the end of the day we want to play rugby so it is not hard putting that stuff at the back of your mind.

“You have to try to bring positives out of negatives but it has to be done in the appropriate manner otherwise it is not going to happen.

“That’s why this is a good week to get things together, but it has to be done now.”

The 22-year-old Hooper said he would lean on experienced teammates like deputy Adam Ashley-Cooper who celebrates his 100th Test on Saturday night to get through the toughest test of his captaincy.

“It is a massive learning curve,” he said.

“But there are plenty of guys around who have offered their help.

“It’s about using them and trying to find a way of moving forward.”

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