KEY POINTS:
A concerned fan alerted All Black coach Graham Henry to a late-night session at a trendy Auckland nightclub, which saw six All Blacks reprimanded and fined in the build-up to last night's crucial match against the Wallabies at Eden Park.
A member of the public slipped a note
under Henry's hotel room door in the early hours of Friday, after Conrad Smith, John Schwalger, Troy Flavell, Rico Gear, Ross Filipo and Piri Weepu had been on a late-night drinking splurge at the Pony Club in Auckland.
The All Blacks' manager, Darren Shand, says that although none of the players was playing in last night's match against the Wallabies at Eden Park, they had let themselves down.
Rugby sources said it was common practice for "dirt trackers" - players not in the 22 for a big Saturday match - to go out for a few drinks on a Thursday night. But an unspoken rule states that they return to the hotel by midnight, or 1am at the latest. It is believed the six players were out drinking until after 4am, which has incensed Henry and team management who have been trying to "grow" the team, sources say.
"They want these guys to make good decisions on their own for the good of the team and the fact that a whole group of guys thought it was okay to be out drinking till 4am two days before a test match has really pissed them off."
After last night's 26-12 win over the Wallabies, Henry told the Herald on Sunday: "We are disappointed they made the wrong decisions."
It is believed a letter was slipped under Henry's Heritage hotel door detailing the night's events, which otherwise may never have become known. The next morning team management informed the New Zealand Players Association of the incident and the misconduct process was started. They were reprimanded and fined $500.
Pony Club owner, TV personality Brooke Howard-Smith, said there was "no misbehaviour" by the All Blacks at the bar and he was not sure whether the group was there when it closed at 4.30am.
"It was a wonderful night - everything was fine. I didn't see anyone who is playing [in the Bledisloe Cup match]."
Howard-Smith said some well-known visiting musicians were also at the club that night. "Honestly, we haven't had one problem ever with any of the All Blacks."
Rob Nichol of the Players Association said most Kiwis would recognise that it's acceptable for All Blacks to go out and have a few drinks to relax if they were not in the playing 22.
"But they were obviously late and have copped a penalty for that - they recognise that's not acceptable and have taken it on the chin."
All Black incidents
Ma'a Nonu - July 2007
The eyeliner-wearing midfielder was granted diversion - for the second time in three years - on charges of breaching Wellington's liquor ban in Cambridge Terrace.
In 2004 Nonu was charged with disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest after a scuffle on Wellington's Courtenay Place.
Sitiveni Sivivatu - April 2007
The Fiji-born winger pleaded guilty - but was discharged without conviction - on charges of assaulting his wife. Police had been called to the couple's Hamilton home after he slapped his wife. The judge, who later fielded criticism from women's groups for the decision, said lifting name suppression was punishment enough. Sivivatu's wife supported him in court; he was ordered to pay court costs of $300 and give $1000 to charity.
Chris Masoe May 2006
Masoe was fined $3000 by the NZRFU after admitting he punched a man after tripping over his legs in a pub at 7am in Christchurch. All Black superstar Tana Umaga snatched a nearby woman's bag and hit Masoe twice over the head with it; he later paid to replace her broken cellphone. She sold the bag on Trade Me for $22,800.