McKenzie answered every question but became increasingly frustrated as he defended his position, leaving his explanation at odds with much of what has been speculated or reported recently. With Patston such a central figure in the issues affecting the team and so much speculation about the extent of her relationship with McKenzie, the question was asked if it was beyond a personal one. His reply was: "I've got a professional relationship with her as I have with all the other people in my staff. Simple as that."

Kurtley Beale is facing an independent disciplinary hearing. Credit:Getty Images

Pressed as to whether he has had intimate relations with Patston, McKenzie said: "No. I've got a professional relationship with her. And I refute that there are people out there and some sort of campaign out there to impugn that's the situation. I've got a professional relationship with her and I refute that."

McKenzie also denied her position within the Wallabies had caused unrest or concern, despite reports of concerns for her growing power base in the squad. "I don't believe her appointment has caused angst," McKenzie said. "I think she came here as the business manager and she came here with a specific role to take the team to a new level. The whole idea of elite sports and elite teams is to actually get the best out of every part. I came here at short notice to try and improve things. My belief is to get the best out of a team you actually have to make progress on every front. She has extraordinary skills, she's come in and made a massive difference in terms of the business side of it, and that was her role. That's what she's done."

He defended Patston's qualifications and suitability for employment at both the Reds where they worked together and at the ARU, saying: "She worked at the Queensland government for 13 years in an auditing capacity and since that time she came and worked for the Reds and she did other things obviously prior to that. She has a very strong background, very strongly qualified in lots of areas around psychology and human behaviour. So she is more than qualified to do the job."