I don’t think there’s a bad culture here
SAYS FRASER McKENZIE
NEW Edinburgh captain Fraser McKenzie has pledged to support flanker John Hardie following his club suspension.
The SRU are investigating the Scotland international for alleged cocaine use but McKenzie insisted his club team-mates will help the 29-year-old regardless of the outcome.
Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill was tight-lipped about the Hardie situation this week, acknowledging it was ‘not ideal’.
Compounding his worries, this is the second suspension this month with Cockerill’s original choice as skipper, Magnus Bradbury, losing the honour after requiring ambulance attention after banging his head on a pavement whilst drunk on a night out with his former Boroughmuir team-mates.
The 22-year-old was a brave selection which quickly backfired on the new head coach but, at 29, inexperience should not be an issue for McKenzie.
Bradbury’s head knock will result in him missing Saturday’s Pro14 visit to Italy to face Benetton, but he will be available for the following week’s match against Ospreys at Myreside.
McKenzie denies the club has a discipline problem but stressed that mental toughness will always be a requirement for a professional athlete.
‘I see myself as driving the standards off the field and on the field,’ said McKenzie. ‘A lot of people have done the same thing as Magnus has done but he has to realise that he is in a position of responsibility. Things that he does will be picked up and scrutinised more than with other people. So, for me it is guiding him, guiding people into making the right decisions.
‘We knew about the John Hardie situation the same time as the press release was going out. It was the night before the game, so we had limited time to take it in. We have not been told much and we were in a position where we could talk about it or we could focus on the game.
‘We are a professional rugby team but we are still close-knit. None of the players have spoken to John since.
‘John will be supported by the team regardless, but there are consequences for everything and they are outwith our hands.
‘I don’t think there is a bad culture about the club. What has happened does not help the situation but it doesn’t make the players bad people. It is simply mistakes and people learn from mistakes. It happens at a lot of clubs, but it does not help us that two have happened so close together.
‘We still have a very good, young group of players, who are still on a journey to improve. We set out our goals at the start of the season and nothing has changed. We are still trying to build that culture and that buzz at the club.’
McKenzie admitted that there have been honest discussions among the squad this week, as they look to build on successive European wins with a return to Pro14 duty.
Benetton handed Cockerill the worst result of his short reign so far when they defeated Edinburgh 20-17 at Myreside last month, and McKenzie insists they will treat the improving Italians with respect.
He said: ‘We have gone out during this storm and won three games quite convincingly and now look forward to Benetton.
‘It is out of our hands… we just focus on the playing side and will build on the ambitions we have.
‘We know they (Benetton) are improving and are a good side. If we don’t go out there prepared and fully concentrating on the game, we will get punished. That is the main thing — driving standards on and off the field.
‘For us to be successful, it’s about consistency and not about the external off-field stuff,’ added McKenzie. ‘It’s about the on-field stuff, so that players are stepping up, controlling games and leading the team.
‘Leadership is a big thing as well. There will be a group of players who will make decisions, not just coaches, and Cockers is trying to build that into the team, not to try to change things or change personalities, just trying to instil discipline into the team.
‘I don’t want these incidents (Bradbury and Hardie) to happen again. But it is not going to be a smooth ride all the time. Teams make mistakes and get poor results but you need consistent results over the course of the year and that is where I can help.
‘And that’s the message for everyone: all players have to step up and take responsibility — and we have to start producing the goods.’
“John will be supported by us regardless”