Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie insists Kurtley Beale’s axing for Saturday’s clash with Argentina has nothing to do with the ARU’s investigation into the playmaker’s off-field conduct.

The ARU is investigating a verbal altercation between Beale and Wallabies business manager Di Patston during a flight from South Africa to South America on Sunday.

McKenzie, though, says he and his three assistant coaches merely couldn’t find room for the troubled star on a bench containing six forwards and only two backs for a match they expect to be extremely physical.

Beale played poorly after being introduced in the second half of Australia’s 28-10 loss to South Africa last Saturday, a match in which the Wallabies led 10-8 entering the final 10 minutes.

McKenzie has preferred the more abrasive Rob Horne as backline cover for when the heat is on against the rugged Pumas.

“We think it’s going to be fairly physical and we want to have a strong defensive finish to the end of the game,” McKenzie said on Thursday.

“So we concentrated on that around selections and that’s where we are.”

McKenzie and former captain James Horwill said the mood remained positive in the Australian camp despite the swirling controversies and a difficult build-up.

“Players, they’re footballers in the end and their job is to play football,” McKenzie said.

“So the best thing they can do in terms of contributing is to do exactly that.”

Beale trained as usual with the Wallabies on Thursday and, looking sharp, is available for a late reprieve should anyone go down between now and kick-off.

The coach said the discarded backline ace was being monitored by Wallabies staff.

“The welfare’s paramount so we’ve got systems in place,” McKenzie said.

“So we just keep moving forward.”

McKenzie doesn’t believe the Wallabies’ recent troubles indicate there is a deeper malaise in the playing ranks.

“I’m comfortable with the progress we’re making,” he said.

“There are moments in time where things aren’t as you’d like but, as a whole, there has been a lot of progress made.”

Horwill, promoted to start on Saturday as a replacement for concussed lock Rob Simmons, said despite the Beale incident, he didn’t believe there’d been any cultural problems since McKenzie succeeded Robbie Deans last year.

“It’s been quite clear and been made quite public that it won’t be tolerated, behavioural incidents,” Horwill said.

“The whole thing for us is team first. Everything that you do, whether it’s on or off the field, away from here, the team is first.

“Ewen’s made that very clear, from the day he got in, that it’s about the team, what we can do best for the team, moving forward.

“That’s been something that’s been a good change for the team and I think it’s been positive.

“You can’t say … nothing’s ever going to happen; that’s not human nature.

“We’ve got to keep working on it, but I feel that the culture is in a good place.”