Rugby: Bans will reinforce new team culture - Coach

Paddy Ryan of the Wallabies. Photo / Getty Images

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has scoffed at suggestions of overkill in his decision to sensationally stand down six players for late-night drinking on their end-of-season tour.

McKenzie has staunchly defended his hardline stance to mete out one-test bans that also compromise selections for this weekend's clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.

Fifteen players in total - almost half the squad - were disciplined after they stayed out in Dublin to the early hours of Wednesday morning before last weekend's impressive 32-15 win over Ireland.

Starting wingers Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins, as well as reserve forwards Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Paddy Ryan and Liam Gill were most severely punished as they were members of the match-day 23 at Dublin's Aviva Stadium. Australia went on to produce their best performance of a forgettable year by scoring four tries to nil against the Irish.

There were no complaints or police involvement, but McKenzie said he could not overlook breaks in team protocols as he looks to improve team culture and turn his rebuilding side into 2015 World Cup champions.

"The easiest thing to do in these situations is to do nothing," he said. "But to do nothing will give you mediocrity.

"We need to set high standards and then make sure we stick to them.

"Everyone wants to win a World Cup but it's the behaviours that will get you there; you have to concentrate on the behaviours."

All bar second-string prop Ryan will miss Sunday morning's test (NZT) at Murrayfield..

Ryan will sit out the final match on tour, against Wales, so the Wallabies can supply a proper bench against the Scots.

It also means McKenzie must be creative in his three-quarter line selections, with Ashley-Cooper and Cummins out and red-carded outside centre Tevita Kuridrani facing a likely judicial suspension for his tip tackle on Irish flanker Peter O'Mahony.

McKenzie labelled the episode a massive distraction but said setting high standards and ensuring a strong culture was crucial to turning around a team that has dropped to No 4 on the world rankings.

"It's the glue that actually binds a team together," he said. "It's what is going to make a difference.

"Every team I have been involved with before, if you can manage a team culture and get a strength in that area it can give you the advantage you need to be a championship side."

- AAP