Senior All Blacks call time on drink culprits

'We've had a gutsful'

Frustrated senior All Blacks have finger-pointed players in the squad over drinking incidents, manager Darren Shand has revealed.

The news came as halfback Jimmy Cowan was fined $3000 and ordered to seek alcohol counseling after amassing three disorderly behaviour charges in recent weeks.

A two-hour misconduct hearing at NZRU headquarters on Tuesday handed out the record-equaling fine and also ordered Cowan to stop drinking alcohol. This would be closely monitored.

A contrite Cowan expressed gratitude at being given another chance and promised to reform.

An extremely fortunate Cowan has held his place on the All Blacks bench to play the Springboks in the Tri-Nations opener in Wellington on Saturday.

But he will first appear in court in the capital to face another disorderly behaviour charge, related to an April incident that cost fellow Highlanders player Lucky Mulipola a $5000 fine for assault.

He is also up for disordlery behaviour charges from another incident in Dunedin and one from Invercargill last Sunday morning.

Cowan's actions have left the All Blacks management annoyed and disappointed but willing to try to help him.

However, it appears their patience and that of some senior players is wearing thin as incidents continue to mount. Last week Jerome Kaino was charged with drink-driving and last year's disastrous World Cup campaign was topped off by Doug Howlett's alcohol-fuelled rampage around a London hotel's car park.

The All Blacks keep hammering the message to their players though it doesn't seem to be sinking in to some of them.

"This year we have spent more time on it than any year I can recall," Shand said of reminding players of their responsibilities.

"It's something where the players themselves are starting to get frustrated with - the senior players - to the point where they have addressed the group and finger-pointed players and said they have had an absolute gutsful of it.

"So this group is committed to working on it, making it better and finding ways to prevent these sort of incidents occurring because they just do irreparable damage to the team and everyone's reputation."

The NZRU took the unusual step of dealing with Cowan before he learned of his fate in the courts over three separate alleged incidents. Shand said that reflected the serious nature of the matter.

"Normally we'd let the court do their time. We have fast-tracked it because it is very serious. It's a lot of damage to the game and the game is in a bad enough state as it is in this country. We had to be pro-active and get on with this," he said acknowledging the impact on sponsors and the general fans.

"As an employer we have to be careful that we don't prejudice Jimmy's rights as a citizen with respect to the legal process. However the behaviour that led to him being arrested warranted immediate action by us."

Despite the serial nature of Cowan's poor behaviour - he was sent home from a Junior All Blacks tour in 2005 - Shand believed the player didn't deserve to be abandoned.

"He has had periods where he has not drunk because he thought he couldn't deal with it. But I don't think he has come to the realisation until now.

"As a young man, he thought he was bomb-proof but it has finally caught up with him and he was always going to have to come to that realisation himself.

"You can put as much resource and support around people but at the end of the day there has got to be some accountability.

"This is serious - there are no more chances here. But we see some good in the man - he's a good team man and every time he has been in the All Blacks environment he's been one of the better people in the environment. We have got to help him with it ... we don't feel we can just caste him aside.

"He has admitted he has behaved badly and players make mistakes. We don't condone what he has done. It's pretty hard for a 25-year-old to admit publically that he has got a (drinking) problem and he has. That takes a lot of courage. Now he is going to have to work hard to justify this faith we have shown in him."

Cowan won't be able to drink while he is involved as a professional rugby player under the NZRU jurisdiction - basically all his first class teams.

He will be monitored regularly by a counseling agency recommended by the NZRU.

Shand said he was confident Cowan would be able to front against the Springboks despite everything that has swirled around him over the past few days and will continue with the focus being ion his court appearance on Wednesday.

"He needs to get back on the horse and get back and do the job. He has got the support of all the boys around him."

Cowan appeared exhausted when he eventually fronted the media outside the NZRU offices.

"I thank the NZRU, my All Black team-mates, All Black management, my family and friends for their ongoing support. I'm very fortunate to be given another chance. This is my problem – nobody else's.

"I'm currently in the process of taking steps to fix it."

- © Fairfax NZ News