Lee Stensness: Expect an Aussie backlash

The All Blacks might, unfortunately, feel the backlash from the now infamous Wallaby "ice throwing" incident.

Given the intelligence and professionalism of the rest of the Wallabies, it will probably be a catalyst for change and result in a tightening of their team protocols and a raising of behavioural standards which will ultimately benefit them.

The so-called guilty party who was sent home, Matt Henjak, has surely paid the price for being a soft target. Henjak was the third halfback in the squad and not in the match 22. He was the only one of the four players involved who could be vaguely entitled to be out at that time of the week.

In the old days, and probably the new days, it was part of the job description of touring players not in the match-day squad to go out and reconnoitre nightlife for the playing team for after the match.

It seems Henjak's over-boisterousness has resulted in him being harshly punished to send a message to the Wallabies in general. Unfortunately, I believe they will probably get the message and become a better team for it.

The "crime" was in itself quite an unremarkable incident. Most people who have been involved in team sports could probably relate a similar tale. A tale that goes something along the lines of: Team-mate A is a bit loud after a few drinks, team-mate B tells him to cool it, team-mate A says something to the effect of #*%! off, B takes offence and a small scuffle ensues, team-mate C intervenes and takes A away to cool down. Five minutes later everyone is best mates again.

A classic storm in a teacup. One which is a bit of a laugh and may actually help team harmony as it provides the other players with plenty of banter.

For the Wallabies it was the timing of the incident, two days before a test against South Africa, that made it more significant. If the "ice throwing" had happened after the test it would have been nothing more than a bad look in the media for the players involved - that it happened before the test makes it much worse.

The real issue isn't the headlock Lote Tuqiri put on Henjak but that two of the starting XV, Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor, and a reserve, Matt Dunning, were "out on it" until 4am less than 48 hours before a test. It's incomprehensible.

Wallaby greats such as Simon Poidevin and Andrew Slack have expressed their disappointment and must be wondering privately if playing for the Wallabies is as important to those players as it was to them.

The other current Wallabies must also feel let down given that they were trying to win a significant prize, the Mandela Cup, and clearly the three players who were out on Thursday night were not as committed as they to that cause.

This is how such an incident may affect team harmony if not addressed. But I think the Wallabies will use this to knit together and gee themselves up - not only against the Boks but also against the All Blacks on August 13.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY