NSW coach denies Australians tried to poach New Zealand props

BRISBANE - New South Wales rugby coach Ewen McKenzie has dismissed a claim that he played a role in an Australian raid on New Zealand tighthead props before this year's Tri-Nations.

The Herald yesterday said former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer and Australia A mentor McKenzie attempted to poach Neemia Tialata, Tim Fairbrother, John Afoa and Ben Castle after approval from the Wallabies' Eddie Jones.

While Dwyer would not comment when contacted, McKenzie said he had only approached Fairbrother as a possible Waratahs recruit way back in April.

And he accused the newspaper of spreading "conspiracy" theories after the Wallabies' embarrassing scrummaging display against England last weekend.

"I've already contacted the journalist to clarify the circumstances because the way it was presented is not the way it happened - it certainly wasn't a conspiracy as was made out," he said.

"It's all been overstated. If you have a good player and he is eligible to play for Australia then he might be a player of interest.

"It's not hard to look through the media guide and work out who those players are."

McKenzie said he spoke with Fairbrother as a possible back-up for Al Baxter for the Waratahs.

"It [the report] looked as if there was some organised approach but the facts were there were a couple of props at Wellington [we were interested in] including Fairbrother who has Australian parentage and I had discussions with his agent," he said.

"At the time we were negotiating with Al Baxter which went on for nearly four months. He was considering going to Perth so you need to make sure you have other options."

McKenzie said his discussions with Fairbrother occurred before he was Australia A coach and had "nothing to do with the Australian Rugby Union".

"With regards to the other three names I had no dealings with them at all," he said. "I do things off my own bat, I don't lie about it. I always tell people I have options and all I was doing was developing a potential option but in the end it came to nothing."

However, Dwyer would not confirm or deny the report.

Asked about the story, Dwyer said: "I saw a synopsis of the report via email but I don't want to make a comment - I just don't want to talk about it at all."

Fairbrother, who did not need to fulfil any residential qualifications to play for the Wallabies thanks to his Australian grandfather, has since signed an extended NZRFU contract.

The Herald's information is that Wellington prop Tialata was the prime target.

Afoa and Castle's subsequent selection for the Junior All Blacks meant they became ineligible to play for Australia.

- AAP