Deans appointed Wallabies coach by ARU

Let's just keep in mind that because Deans is on a 4 year contract, doesn't mean he'll take off at the end. Contracts have been known to be renewed - and he has already been sacked once and passed over once by the All Blacks.

If Deans has 4 good years with the Wallabies and is active with the S14 coaches and then wishes to move on…that’s OK by me. If he when wants to coach the All Blacks, The British Lions, Chelsea or the New England Patriots, I really don’t mind and will remain grateful for his time in Australia. Australian coaches will have developed further by then and hopefully won a S14. Conceivably there will be some new coaching talent in the rugby landscape; One example is Owen Finegan having just returned from the northern hemisphere is starting a supporting coaching role with the Brumbies. Finegan has 55 Wallaby caps and led the Brumbies to their 2004 S12 title and scored the match winning try 1999 WC final against France. I’m sure there must be other contenders out there. For Deans a transition period to move cross after the S14 from the Crusaders is fine, it will enable him to have an independent study of the Aussie S14 players from across the ditch. He will be viewing all the tapes without influence…I liked his statement at the press conference yesterday, “there are no Wallabies, the S14 is the trial period.” And “My first choice team is the team that wants me”. Fresh eyes will be good as there were a number of players that had good S14 that got looked over by Knuckles.

formeropenside, There's every channce Deans might be All Blacks coach 2012-15, after helping the Wallabies lift the RWC in 2011, in the backyard of his own country! Would we wish him ill then? No way, we would wish him all the best. Deans will give to Australia every bit of himself as he has given to Canterbury, the All Blacks as a player & possible future coach. And you're wrong. Deans will move to Australia, this being his last year as Canterbury coach. So what if he waits until the end of the S14 to move across? He already knows most of the Aussie players, will see all the S14 teams in action, & will no doubt be in touch with the Aussie S14 coaches & players. One final thing, for the first non-Australian Wallabies coach, you couldn't get a greater candidate than Robbie Deans. Irrespective of whether the Wallabies win the RWC 2011 or not, Deans will lift the Wallabies immeasurably. That will be his wonderful legacy.

Sheek - the most likely scenario is that rather than dying in Aust, Deans will return to NZ to coach the AB's in a few years. Are you happy with that outcome? Its not like Deans has moved to Australia, ever lived in Aust, or showed any independent interest in being the Wallabies coach. I'll support him, because that what you have to do as a rugby fan, but I this is a sad thing for Australian rugby.

Kenikenipat, Re...If Flowers hadn’t run the Wallabys into the ground over 3 years he was in charge, we might not have needed to turn to ‘The best man for the job’. Can you tell my old man that? He's gibbering away at the top of the page somewhere...

Loges- No you couldn't. If Flowers hadn't run the Wallabys into the ground over 3 years he was in charge, we might not have needed to turn to 'The best man for the job'. At least Nero fiddled. When he was given the job he got hit up the backside by a rainbow, unfortunately he turned that into crap. Now JON has needed to turn the finances around, the style of rugby around and he's doing it with a proven formula. The best coach. Go Robbie Deans. I can't wait to have some atmosphere again at Stadium Aus watching a W's team have a red hot go.

Sheek - couldn't have put it better myself.

Guys - please also give a kick up the jack hole to the ID 10 T that submitted an article somehow placing Alan Jones at the heart of Robbie Deans appointment. Cougar - are you still of the opinion that having a foreign coach is not kosher? How do you feel about non Australian players on the Wallabies? There are plenty of posts on this topic, but if non-Autralian born players were excluded George Gregan would not have played for the Wallabies (among a long and glorious list going back at least 20 years). As Sheek said, get past it, leap to the 21st century.

This is awesome for rugby in New Zealand. The Tri-Nations has become a boring competition for us. The solution? Lose at the World Cup and let Deans coach the Wallabies. So many storylines. So much reason to watch. Can't wait for Henry vs. Deans.

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!

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.

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.

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...

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...

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.

Great move by the ARU. I might actually start watching them play again.

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.

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.

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?