Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans feels the Kurtley Beale saga could have been avoided if the Wallabies had the right kind of leadership culture.

Beale was fined $45,000 by the Australian Rugby Union but avoided suspension and having his contract terminated after a marathon code of conduct hearing last Friday.

An independent tribunal found Beale guilty of a serious violation of the ARU code of conduct for sending an offensive photograph to former Wallabies staffer Di Patston in June, a scandal which led to Ewen McKenzie’s resignation as Wallabies coach.

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But the tribunal found no evidence to prove a second more offensive text and photo had been sent by Beale.

Deans, who was replaced by McKenzie after the series defeat to the British and Irish Lions in 2013, says the introduction of two new Super Rugby franchises contributed to an influx of Australian players who were not yet ready for international rugby.

He says a young Wallabies side – featuring Beale, Quade Cooper and James O’Connor – suffered as a result, with a lack of leadership among the inexperienced players to nip behavioural problems in the bud.

“We obviously promoted them early because we had a need and ultimately [we wanted] to be number one consistently, so we had to find a way of getting over the top of the likes of New Zealand,” Deans told ABC News Breakfast.

“That acceleration of that generation presented its challenges.

“But it wasn’t just at the international level, it was also Super Rugby. We had the addition of two Super Rugby franchises across Australia, so we had a natural promotion of a group who probably weren’t fully ready in terms of training age to take that step, so with that came a lot of challenges.

“[Off-field challenges are] par for the course. Every side has those.

“But because of the profile of our group, the age of our group, we lacked the leadership within to really manage that effectively.

“People talk a lot about culture. Culture is what is there when the coach is not.

“You’re part of building a group and a modus operandi, if you like, but the litmus test is when you walk away what happens, and who manages that because you can’t be everywhere all the time.”

McKenzie resignation not good for the game

Deans said he had symapathy for successor McKenzie, who resigned as Wallabies coach following the narrow 29-28 Bledisloe Cup loss to New Zealand in Brisbane.

McKenzie had been embroiled in a media storm following a confrontation between Beale and Patston on board a flight to South America before a Rugby Championship game against Argentina.

Patston went on stress leave and then resigned her role as Wallabies business manager, amid revelations about explicit and abusive texts and photos allegedly sent by Beale to her earlier in the year.

Deans says the debacle is another hindrance to rugby union in Australia as it struggles to compete with rival football codes.

“There is obviously a lot more than meets the eye, there. It’s not good for the game, and particularly in Australia where the game really does struggle for profile,” Deans said.

“Part of the reason for that is rugby is an international game. But it’s competing against other codes that are very, very village-oriented. It doesn’t matter where you live, there is somebody that represents you locally.

“You can also watch them on free-to-air TV routinely which is a great advantage.”