In the very week in which Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has shown extraordinary faith in both players, promoting Beale from the bench into the starting side at fullback and resisting widespread calls to move O'Connor out of the crucial playmaking role at five-eighth, he also was forced to pull the two of them into line.
"We've had a conversation for sure," said Deans. "It's not the best practice in terms of sleeping habits. They understand it was too late for them to get to bed.
"Suffice to say it was not a comfortable conversation."
There might be an even more uncomfortable conversation awaiting the two players from their team-mates once the Lions series is over.
Australia's current senior back, 78-Test veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper said the incident happened too deep into the Wallabies preparation for the senior players to intervene because it could distract them from their build-up.
"I think that was something initially for the management to address," said Ashley-Cooper. "The senior players can certainly address that post-Lions series."