Making sure players understand their responsibilities as a Wallaby will be high on new coach Ewen McKenzie’s to-do list.

The behaviour of Australia’s elite rugby players off the field has often overshadowed and undermined their achievements on it in recent months.

Several Wallabies, including Digby Ioane, Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor have found themselves making headlines for the wrong reasons.

As McKenzie was unveiled as the new Wallabies mentor, ARU chief executive Bill Pulver confirmed two players had missed the bus to the team’s final training session before last Saturday’s series-deciding Test against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney.

McKenzie, who played 51 times for Australia as a player, said he’ll be making it clear to his players that representing your country is an honour that comes with responsibility.

“Getting clarity on what’s expected at the Wallaby level is critical,” McKenzie said.

“I’ll make it quite clear what I want from a Wallaby.

“It won’t be too complicated but they need to understand the opportunity to play for the Wallabies is a purely representative one.

“It’s like a week-to-week contract and if you’re not doing the right thing at the right time, that week-to-week contract might not be there.”