Wallabies star Kurtley Beale was asked to change his shirt during a flight by a female staff member, before an argument led to him being dropped for the side's match against Argentina. The request came from head coach Ewen McKenzie through business manager Di Patston, who also asked the same of rookie second-rower Sam Carter during the team's flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paolo on Sunday, according toFairfax Media. However, what is believed to have sparked the verbal altercation just 15 hours after the side's 28-10 loss to the Springboks, was when Beale is said to have made a sarcastic comment as he returned to his seat. It was reported that Patston questioned the remark, according to witnesses on the plane, which caused the argument as McKenzie and other club members  tried to intervene. Scroll down for video . Wallabies star Kurtley Beale was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with a female staff member during a flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paolo on Saturday . McKenzie has confirmed that Beale has been left out of the 23-man squad but says the decision was made as a game strategy, for 'team balance' - rather than as disciplinary action after the controversy. Patston returned to Australia on Tuesday of her own accord, from Buenos Aires, two days later. McKenzie missed training on Tuesday afternoon to escort her to the airport but on Wednesday said Beale remained available for selection for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with the Pumas in Mendoza. Beale's 47-Test career has been dogged by a succession of off-field problems and last year the 25-year-old was forced to undergo counselling and rehabilitation for his struggles with alcohol. McKenzie, though, said the troubled playmaker shouldn't be hung out to dry. 'Obviously we're aware of the history but you deal with every incident as it comes along,' he said. 'And you've got to determine the facts and until we determine that fully, I'm not going to make any more judgment on it.' An ARU spokesperson said they expected the investigation to be completed by the end of next week. It came the day after the Wallabies's 28-10 loss to the Springboks in Cape Town . The Australian Rugby Union's integrity unit investigating an alleged incident . 'The investigation will ensure all parties have an opportunity to present all relevant facts, before any assessment of the alleged incident can be reached,' they said. McKenzie declined to comment on the severity of the allegation or any possible sanctioning, but it's understood the altercation was only verbal. 'We've referred it to the experts,' McKenzie said. 'I mean, obviously there's protocols and things in place.' McKenzie refused to divulge whether alcohol was involved, but the Wallabies have a protocol of no drinking on flights and are only allowed to indulge on the night after a Test match. 'Matters of integrity, you've actually got to protect the people involved until there is some sort of decision,' McKenzie said. Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie (right) on Wednesday said Beale (left) remained available for selection for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash . Last year the 25-year-old was forced to undergo counselling and rehabilitation for his struggles with alcohol . McKenzie admitted he was aware of the incident soon after it happened, but other dramas - including the delayed arrival of the 42-strong touring party's luggage - had slowed the investigation process. The coach missed Wallabies training in Buenos Aires on Tuesday - their only session so far this week - while dealing with the incident in which he claimed 'there were a number of people involved'. McKenzie conceded the incident was a major distraction ahead of their final Rugby Championship match. 'These things are time-consuming, so I don't pretend that I enjoy the distraction of it,' he said. 'But matters of welfare are critical. Matters of behaviour are critical, too, to team culture. 'So I'm not going to sit here and leave things undone or not attended, so obviously the ARU will take the lead on it but I'll follow it through and make sure things get sorted.'
Wallabies star Kurtley Beale left out of side for clash with Argentina .
Ewen McKenzie confirms Beale won't play but says it is just GAME strategy .
Beale was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with a female management staff member named as Di Patston .
Patston asked him to change his shirt which caused the argument .
Incident occurred on a flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paolo .
Wallabies star Kurtley Beale was asked to change his shirt during a flight by a female staff member, before an argument led to him being dropped for the side's match against Argentina. The request came from head coach Ewen McKenzie through business manager Di Patston, who also asked the same of rookie second-rower Sam Carter during the team's flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paolo on Sunday, according toFairfax Media. However, what is believed to have sparked the verbal altercation just 15 hours after the side's 28-10 loss to the Springboks, was when Beale is said to have made a sarcastic comment as he returned to his seat. It was reported that Patston questioned the remark, according to witnesses on the plane, which caused the argument as McKenzie and other club members  tried to intervene. Scroll down for video . Wallabies star Kurtley Beale was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with a female staff member during a flight from Johannesburg to Sao Paolo on Saturday . McKenzie has confirmed that Beale has been left out of the 23-man squad but says the decision was made as a game strategy, for 'team balance' - rather than as disciplinary action after the controversy. Patston returned to Australia on Tuesday of her own accord, from Buenos Aires, two days later. McKenzie missed training on Tuesday afternoon to escort her to the airport but on Wednesday said Beale remained available for selection for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with the Pumas in Mendoza. Beale's 47-Test career has been dogged by a succession of off-field problems and last year the 25-year-old was forced to undergo counselling and rehabilitation for his struggles with alcohol. McKenzie, though, said the troubled playmaker shouldn't be hung out to dry. 'Obviously we're aware of the history but you deal with every incident as it comes along,' he said. 'And you've got to determine the facts and until we determine that fully, I'm not going to make any more judgment on it.' An ARU spokesperson said they expected the investigation to be completed by the end of next week. It came the day after the Wallabies's 28-10 loss to the Springboks in Cape Town . The Australian Rugby Union's integrity unit investigating an alleged incident . 'The investigation will ensure all parties have an opportunity to present all relevant facts, before any assessment of the alleged incident can be reached,' they said. McKenzie declined to comment on the severity of the allegation or any possible sanctioning, but it's understood the altercation was only verbal. 'We've referred it to the experts,' McKenzie said. 'I mean, obviously there's protocols and things in place.' McKenzie refused to divulge whether alcohol was involved, but the Wallabies have a protocol of no drinking on flights and are only allowed to indulge on the night after a Test match. 'Matters of integrity, you've actually got to protect the people involved until there is some sort of decision,' McKenzie said. Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie (right) on Wednesday said Beale (left) remained available for selection for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash . Last year the 25-year-old was forced to undergo counselling and rehabilitation for his struggles with alcohol . McKenzie admitted he was aware of the incident soon after it happened, but other dramas - including the delayed arrival of the 42-strong touring party's luggage - had slowed the investigation process. The coach missed Wallabies training in Buenos Aires on Tuesday - their only session so far this week - while dealing with the incident in which he claimed 'there were a number of people involved'. McKenzie conceded the incident was a major distraction ahead of their final Rugby Championship match. 'These things are time-consuming, so I don't pretend that I enjoy the distraction of it,' he said. 'But matters of welfare are critical. Matters of behaviour are critical, too, to team culture. 'So I'm not going to sit here and leave things undone or not attended, so obviously the ARU will take the lead on it but I'll follow it through and make sure things get sorted.'
Wallabies star Kurtley Beale was asked to change his shirt during a flight by a female staff during the team's flight from Johannesburg to Sao witnesses on the plane, which caused the argument Kurtley Beale was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with a female staff member during a out of the 23-man squad but says the decision was