Hooper: We backed McKenzie
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper denied reports that coach Ewen McKenzie was forced out because of a lack of support from the playing group.
McKenzie resigned on Saturday in the wake of a heartbreaking 29-28 loss to the All Blacks in Brisbane.
McKenzie dropped his bombshell shortly after Malakai Fekitoa's last-gasp converted try clinched the game for New Zealand in the final Bledisloe Cup Test.
McKenzie's unexpected exit adds to the turmoil engulfing Australian rugby in the fall-out over the Kurtley Beale text scandal, and comes just days before the Wallabies depart on their European tour.
Hooper dismissed suggestions that MCKenzie had lost the support of the players.
"I don't think he lost the respect of the players to be honest," Hooper told the media conference.
"Last night's game showed that he didn't lose the respect of the players.
"He really showed what he's worth in the back end of the week. We played for him, we played for everyone in the staff, we played for everyone as a group, so he didn't lose the respect of the players."
Hooper said he respected McKenzie's decision to abruptly walk out after he was forced to deny speculation last week of an intimate relationship with former team business manager Di Patston, at the centre of disciplinary proceedings facing Beale.
Beale has been suspended following an on-flight argument with Patston and claims that he sent offensive text messages about her. She has since quit the Wallabies set-up.
"You have to respect his decision as an individual. So he's got his reasons for that and we respect those," Hooper said.
"After the game to come in and finish like that and it was a blow to hear about Ewen McKenzie's departure after the match but we respect his decision as an individual.
"On behalf of the players, he has done a lot for the players, so we wish him all the best and thank him for his contribution.
"As a group, we're united and we are looking forward to the five-week tour that we have coming up this Friday," he added.
