Remorseful star James O'Connor appears certain to be banned from the Wallabies' Tri-Nations decider with coach Robbie Deans and the Rugby Union Players Association incensed by his late-night partying.

Back in the Australian camp in Brisbane on Sunday, O'Connor apologised for missing Thursday morning's World Cup squad announcement and team photo and said he would cop any punishment on the chin.

He is expected to be officially stood down from Saturday night's series finale against the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium after the completion of an Australian Rugby Union investigation on Monday.

But O'Connor, reportedly embroiled in a hushed-up incident during last year's spring tour and also disciplined for a 2009 hotel food fight, could even face a heavier punishment that could rule him out of some World Cup action.

Deans left no doubt about his immense disappointment on Sunday, saying there would be "likely consequences" over the unsavoury distraction to Australia's hopes of ending a 10-year Tri-Nations drought.

"Part of the game is on the field and part of the game is off the field," he said at a Ballymore fan day.

"If you can't rely on your mates off the field, it's very likely you wont be able to rely on them on the field.

"It's a necessity in the function of the team (reliance).

"I don't think anyone in the group is happy. It's a distraction that we can do without."

While O'Connor was reportedly spotted at a couple of eastern Sydney hotels along with fullback Kurtley Beale the night before the announcement, the 21-year-old would not reveal the reason behind his Thursday no-show.

"The process is out of my hands, it's with the ARU and whatever the outcome is I'm willing to cop it," he said.

"I would like to apologise to all the fans and my teammates.

"I let myself down, I let the fans down and I guess all the Wallabies down and the ARU as well."

If O'Connor thought he might gain some support from the players union, then he could think again with RUPA president, and prospective Melbourne Rebels teammate, Adam Freier calling for his dumping.

Freier did not believe there was a drinking culture within the Wallabies but felt a strong message needed to be sent to the 28-Test wonderkid.

The former Wallabies hooker was concerned O'Connor, who had explained his shock June defection to the Rebels as the best move for his "brand", was veering into dangerous territory.

"It's an early crossroads for him, and he can go two ways here," Freier told the ABC's Offsiders program.

"I know what he's like; he'll be very disappointed in himself and he'll be carrying that burden.

"(But) the best thing Robbie can do is starve him of actually performing and hopefully that will move him in a new direction because he's been rattled talking brands.

"He made a terrible mistake, a lack of judgement, and he should be punished.

"This shouldn't just be washed over, this is a big deal."

If O'Connor is dropped, Deans would likely hand Quade Cooper the goalkicking duties and have to reshuffle his backline for Australia's last Test before the World Cup.

Reserve back Anthony Fainga'a comes into calculations in the centres with either Pat McCabe or Adam Ashley-Cooper likely to move onto O'Connor's vacant right wing.

Deans could also call World Cup duo Berrick Barnes or Rob Horne into his Test squad, or specialist winger Lachie Turner, but all three have been selected for the Australian Barbarians against Canada on the Gold Coast on Friday night.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP