Newly appointed Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has opted not to rush Kurtley Beale back for the European tour, feeling the troubled utility needs to take a step away from the spotlight.
Cheika's first key decision in the role he accepted only three days ago means Beale won't be joining his Australian teammates for the start of their five-match tour next week, despite being eligible for selection following his code of conduct hearing.
Cheika has not ruled out the possibility of Beale joining the month-long tour at some stage, and stresses the player remains a part of his long-term plans.
But the coach says the 25-year-old needs some time to work on both his fitness and state of mind.
"If you took everything else out of it and just look at the physical preparation required to play Test footy, he (Beale) doesn't have that under his belt," Cheika said after touching down with the Australian squad at London's Heathrow Airport on Saturday.
"He's been under a lot of pressure and stress as well.
"It's just a matter of him taking a step back, letting everything settle down and train to see how he feels and we'll see how we're going as well.
"We've got depth in our backline, so we're certainly not desperate (to select him)."
Beale on Friday night (AEDT) was found guilty of a serious violation of the ARU Code of Conduct by an independent three-man tribunal in Sydney and given a $45,000 fine, for sending an offensive photograph to then-ARU employee Di Patston.
However, he was found not guilty of a more serious charge, meaning he escaped suspension.
Cheika only learned of the result of the hearing during the Wallabies' brief stopover in Dubai but said he had already prepared for the tour without Beale's services.
Cheika has always been considered a strong supporter of Beale, whom he coaches with the NSW Waratahs, and said the ARU's decision to offer the player a contract for next year showed Beale remained a key part of 2015 World Cup plans.
The coach said the situation was "not a happy thing" for both Beale and the whole of Australian rugby and was looking forward to his first match in charge - against the Barbarians at Twickenham next weekend.
"It's not nice that anyone has to get in the spotlight for negative things and everyone's sort of been included in that," Cheika said.
"The idea now is to start playing some football. That's going to get people talking about that and not some of those things that have unfortunately taken a bit of gloss off the last Test, the John Eales Medal and now this tour."
Beale, who has also committed a number of other off-field indiscretions, was fined for sending a text and offensive photo to ARU employee Di Patston during the recent trip to Argentina.
Capped 47 times, Beale didn't front the media after Friday's hearing but, in a statement, said he apologised to Patston and the wider community and would work to regain the respect of his teammates, fans and the Australian community.
The controversy led to Ewen McKenzie stepping down as coach with the ARU scrambling to appoint Cheika just days out from the European tour.
Cheika said he had been embarrassed by the many messages of encouragement he'd received since accepting the role but admitted to some anxiety.
"Obviously, it's a bit of the unknown for me. I'm nervous and I want to do my best as I possibly can," he said.
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