New Zealander Robbie Deans has been appointed Wallabies coach until the end of the 2011 season, the Australian Rugby Union announced today.
Is this the best move for the Wallabies and rugby in Australia?
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Deans won the job ahead of five Australians, former Wallabies coach and media personality Alan Jones, Auckland Blues coach David Nucifora, ACT Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher, NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie and Wallabies assistant coach John Muggleton.
ARU Chairman Peter McGrath said: “Robbie comes with a superb record and I am delighted to announce he will be joining the ARU.
“The ARU Board presented the selection panel with a brief to find the most outstanding candidate.
“We as a Board consider this appointment satisfies that objective.
“The Australian public would expect nothing less from us and we see this as a new start for Australian rugby.
“In terms of our playing ranks, we are on the doorstep of generational change.
“We believe Robbie Deans is the man to move us into that new era.
“He has created history today by becoming the first non-Australian to coach the Wallabies.
“We trust there are further historic achievements awaiting him and the Wallabies over the next four years on the road to the 2011 World Cup.”
ARU Deputy Chief Executive Matt Carroll said the ARU management team was looking forward to working with the new Wallabies coach.
“Robbie will have a major contribution to make to Australian Rugby,” he said.
“That will include a close connection with Super 14 coaches, community rugby and the ARU management team.”
ROBBIE DEANS’ BIOGRAPHY
Born: September 4, 1959
Place of birth: Cheviot, New Zealand
Robbie Deans is Super rugby’s most successful coach, taking the Crusaders to the final six times in the past eight seasons including title wins in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006. Finishing the 2007 campaign having presided over 76 winning performances from 115 Super rugby matches, Deans is the only coach in Super rugby to have been in charge of a side for in excess of 100 games.
As a player, he still holds the record for the most points in the Canterbury provincial jersey (147 games, 1641 points). He also played five Tests for New Zealand between 1983 and 1985.
As a coach, Deans started with the Canterbury Country representative side between 1992 and 1995, before taking over the Canterbury side in 1997 when it won the NPC for the first time in 14 years. He later won the Ranfurly Shield with Canterbury in 2000 before surrendering that role to concentrate entirely on the Crusaders.
Crusaders manager between 1997 and 1999, he was associated with two title-winning seasons for the Christchurch based team (1998 & 1999).
Deans was an All Blacks Assistant Coach between 2001 and 2003. During that period, New Zealand won 22, drew one and lost four of the Tests that it played, while winning the Tri-Nations twice and recovering the Bledisloe Cup after a five year absence.
ROBBIE DEANS’ RECORD
PLAYING CAREER
Position: Fullback
Provincial team: Canterbury
Provincial Caps: 146
Provincial Points: 1641 (Canterbury record)
Test Caps: 5
Test points: 50 (4c, 14p)
Test Debut: v Scotland at Edinburgh (12 November 1983)
Test Cap Number: 841
COACHING CAREER
2000-present: Crusaders Head Coach
2001-2003: All Blacks Assistant Coach
1997-2000: Canterbury
COACHING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Canterbury
National Provincial Championship: 1997
Ranfurly Shield: 2000
Crusaders
Super Rugby Titles: 2000, 2002*, 2005, 2006
Super Rugby Runners up: 2003, 2004
Win/Loss Ratio: 76/115
* Won all 13 competition matches
All Blacks
Bledisloe Cup: 2003
Tri Nations: 2002, 2003
Win/Loss Ratio: 22/4 (1 draw)
Other
New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year Award: 2002
The Roar’s poll on Wallabies coach
The Roar readers voted for the following Wallabies coaches:
# David Nucifora (30%)
# Robbie Deans (23%)
# Alan Jones (20%)
# Scott Johnson (6%)
# Jake White (6%)
# John Muggleton (4%)
# Graham Henry (4%)
# Laurie Fisher (3%)
# Ewen McKenzie (3%)
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The Cougar said | December 14th 2007 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
This is a regrettable day. To me, a large component of leadership is being able to empathise with those you guide and inspire. Why is the Prime Minister of Australia an Australian? Because as a citizen, he or she is able to relate to those under his or her power.
Or do we open up positions of power in politics to those who have “the best credentials” in terms of qualifications, experience and results?!?!?! Does the Labor Party recruit the Swedish environment minister because they’ve done a great job with climate change in Sweden? Does the Liberal Party recruit the Swiss foreign affairs minister because their historical diplomacy has been the envy of other nations?
Kento said | December 14th 2007 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Cougar, I have to disagree on this one. The state of rugby in Australia is dire at the moment. Fans, players and sponsors are walking away from the game in droves. Other sports (particularly soccer) are growing hugely in Australia (and, I might add, hiring overseas coaches).
The ball was in the ARU’s court to secure one of the best coaches in the world – with a wonderful record of winning and developing players. Do we not take the opportunity, leave the game to ruin…appoint second rate coaches…on the basis that the best candidate isn’t an Aussie?
This was the right move for so many reasons. Well done the ARU.
Peter L said | December 14th 2007 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
Cougar, oddly enough the answer to your questions in a sense is yes. The Aus Government, like most if not all Governments, often buys in foreign talent to perform jobs that we either do not have domestic skills to accomplish in Aus, or that require by their nature people without a “barrow to push” in local terms – they are called Consultants, and the NSW State Givt recently spent $10M on some from the US to analyse the problems with State Rail and recommend a plan of improvement.
Think of Deans as a Consultant, with JON as the representative. It all makes sense.
Phil said | December 14th 2007 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
Great move by the ARU. I might actually start watching them play again.
formeropenside said | December 14th 2007 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
Its a disaster. Eddie Jones was a failure as Qld coach as his heart was not in it; I hope Aus has not made the same mistake with Deans.
Assistant coach…OK. Head Coach? The ARU should hang their head in shame.
mudskipper said | December 14th 2007 @ 5:17pm | Report comment
Welcome aboard Aussie Robbie Deans and congratulations ARU for landing a 3-year deal to 2011 WC. It will money well spent, he will make a fresh addition to Australian rugby and be an asset to the S14 Australian coaches…It is also more important that McKenzie and Fisher continue with their rebuilding of the Waratahs and Brumbies teams and not end up on the rocks like the ill-fated Reds.
What’s exceedingly interesting about Deans appointment is he would have been studying Australian player weaknesses for years and now he has the opportunity to apply this knowledge to strengthen these players…I expect the players will welcome a coach with tips to improve their game. Should prove be very interesting couple of years. I’m looking forward to 2008 rugby…S14 15 Feb start…only 2 months.
On another note of interest, S14 first week game Crusaders vs. Brumbies in Christchurch perhaps without Deans and new ELVs. Brumbies won the last match in Canberra. Will he choose fellow NZer Lam as his assistant? We could have two NZers steering the Wallabies…Will Deans get Lote scoring tries again, I hope so…hee be great for the young Wallabies…
mudskipper said | December 14th 2007 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
Welcome aboard Aussie Robbie Deans and congratulations ARU for landing a 3-year deal to 2011 WC. It will money well spent, he will make a fresh addition to Australian rugby and be an asset to the S14 Australian coaches…It is also more important that McKenzie and Fisher continue with their rebuilding of the Waratahs and Brumbies teams and not end up on the rocks like the ill-fated Reds.
What’s exceedingly interesting about Deans appointment is he would have been studying Australian player weaknesses for years and now he has the opportunity to apply this knowledge to strengthen these players…I expect the players will welcome a coach with tips to improve their game. Should prove be very interesting couple of years. I’m looking forward to 2008 rugby…S14 15 Feb start…only 2 months.
On another note of interest, S14 first week game Crusaders vs. Brumbies in Christchurch perhaps without Deans and new ELVs. Brumbies won the last match in Canberra. Will he choose fellow NZer Lam as his assistant? We could have two NZers steering the Wallabies…Will Deans get Lote scoring tries again, I hope so…he will be great for the young Wallabies…
sheek said | December 14th 2007 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
Cougar,
Get with the programme. This idea of only an Australian as head coach is outdated. Step into the 21st century, mate.
Our prayers have been answered. Amen to that. Robbie Deans is a total professional. For the next 3 years, he will see himself as an Aussie, whose primary objective will be to make the Wallabies the best rugby team in the world.
And he has the knowledge & empathy to take the Wallabies to another level.
swifty said | December 14th 2007 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
Disaster?
Regrettable?
You blokes are hard to please. Does he have the best coaching record of any of the candidates? Yes.
On the issue of his not being Australian – gee I would hope a bloke pulling on a Wallaby jersey would have enough reasons to be ‘passionate’ about representing his country regardless of the nationality of his coach.
We’ve all bemoaned the internal political problems of Australian rugby in recent years. Lets now applaud a professional decision that seems to serve no particular behind the scenes powerbroker or Greg Growden informant.
sheek said | December 14th 2007 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
Here’s a thought.
None of us have a say in where we are born, but we do have a say in where we die.
Most particularly, whether circumstance, opportuninuty, happenstance, or whatever, some people find themselves living their lives out somewhere else.
Deans becoming Wallabies national coach, continues an age old argument, best presented at the club level.
Who’s the more committed club man? The guy who’s been there 10 years, but playing within his comfort zone? Or the guy who signed a 3 year contract, & gives 100% plus for each of those 3 years.
It comes down to the individual. Look past Dean’s nationality. The guy is an absolute professional. When he is done with Australian rugby in 4 years time, he will have left nothing in reserve.
That’s a champion – both on the field, & off!