An under-pressure Robbie Deans must make one of the toughest selection decisions of his six-season Wallabies tenure between two star players who have been out until 4am three days before a crucial Test against the British and Irish Lions.
Deans is scheduled to announce his team to play the Lions on Thursday where his contentious five-eighth choice presents a major dilemma following Australia’s 23-21 first Test loss.
The New Zealander must decide between his first-choice playmaker in James O’Connor or his 2012 go-to man, Kurtley Beale, to be the chief playmaker for the second Test at Etihad Stadium.
But both O’Connor and Beale were out until 4am on Wednesday morning after watching their Super Rugby team, the Melbourne Rebels, fall 35-0 to the Lions.
The pair were photographed with a Lions fan in a fast food outlet in Melbourne and the picture was published by English newspaper The Daily Mail.
Wallabies team management have conducted an investigation and found neither broke team rules after being out with a small group of Rebels players.
“Both players are adamant that they didn’t drink and we have checked that out thoroughly,” a team spokesman said. “James O’Connor was driving.
“They have not broken any team protocols. Today (Wednesday) is a day off for the squad and there were no commitments until late afternoon.”
Still, it is not a good look for a team which needs to win on Saturday night to keep the once-in-every-12-years series alive.
Beale has only just returned to the national set-up after battling personal issues and being involved in several incidents after drinking.
Only five hours after the photograph was taken, Wallabies back-rower Ben Mowen, a former NSW teammate of Beale’s, said he had “matured a lot” this year.
“I think Kurtley’s a very strong bloke and people don’t give him enough credit.”
O’Connor had also said he was desperate to help the Wallabies bounce back from last weekend’s series-opening loss.
“I’m taking this game as the biggest one of my life,” he said.
The 22-year-old was disappointing in just his second Test start at five-eighth and Deans has the option to promote Beale to No.10 instead and work in tandem with Will Genia.
Injuries have ruled out fellow backs Berrick Barnes, Pat McCabe and Digby Ioane, which should open the way for Beale and Joe Tomane to start and Rob Horne to come into the team, possibly on the bench.
The Lions are also naming their team on Thursday and will likely lose prop Alex Corbisiero to a calf strain on top of the tour-ending injury to lock Paul O’Connell (broken arm).
Possible Wallabies starting team: Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, James O’Connor, Will Genia; Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, James Horwill (capt), Kane Douglas, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
