All Blacks scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan has been ordered to stop drinking alcohol or face the sack after attending a New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) misconduct hearing on Tuesday.
Cowan was summoned to appear after being arrested twice in the last two months for disorder offences following drinking binges.
He was fined NZ$3 000 by the NZRU and ordered to undergo counselling, but was allowed to stay in the squad on the condition that he gives up alcohol.
”Jimmy must change his behaviour if he wants to be a professional rugby player in New Zealand,” All Blacks manager Darren Shand said in a statement.
”We have made it a condition of his employment that he stop drinking altogether. This is his last chance.
”We take the matter very seriously and considered other penalties. However, in light of Jimmy’s willingness to acknowledge his problem and seek help for it we decided that what was most important was that we address the problem openly and deal with it rather than pushing it to one side.”
Cowan (26) has played 10 Tests for the All Blacks since making his international debut in 2004.
Shand said it was very unusual for the NZRU to speak to a player before his case had gone to the courts.
”The repeated incidents in a short period of time just reinforce our decision to take urgent action,” Shand said.
Meanwhile, All Blacks lock Ali Williams has recovered from an ankle injury to be named in the All Blacks team to play South Africa in the opening Tri-Nations series Test on Saturday.
In all there are four changes named on Tuesday to the starting line-up that beat England 44-12 in the second Test in Christchurch on June 21.
Conrad Smith has been restored to outside centre in place of Richard Kahui, Mils Muliaina takes over at fullback from Leon MacDonald and Tony Woodcock takes over at prop ahead of Neemia Tialata.
Rodney So’oialo has been named as captain and number seven, replacing the injured Richie McCaw, allowing Jerome Kaino to return at number eight.
Coach Graham Henry said Williams was expected to start the match despite missing some training sessions after injuring his ankle in the second English Test.
”Ali is an experienced player and the limited preparation shouldn’t be an issue,” Henry said. ”We just need to get his ankle right first.”
A reserve scrumhalf was not named for Cowan.
Henry said the All Blacks will need to improve if they are to beat the World Cup champions on Saturday.
”South Africa has a very strong team right now and we have a huge challenge in front of us,” he said.
South Africa are scheduled to name their team on Thursday.
All Blacks: Mils Muliaina; Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Rudi Wulf; Dan Carter, Andy Ellis; Jerome Kaino, Rodney So’oialo (captain), Adam Thomson; Ali Williams, Brad Thorn; Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Boric, Sione
Lauaki, reserve scrumhalf to be named, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald. — Reuters, Sapa-AFP