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He was a controversial selection and now he will lead the Wallabies into the Rugby World Cup battlegrounds of New Zealand. No, he’s not newly-appointed skipper James Horwill.
In fact, he won’t even play a match.
He is Robbie Maxwell Deans, former All Blacks fullback and now, of course, the Wallabies’ first foreign coach.
“Dingo” Deans he was tagged upon his appointment on December 14, 2007.
His recruitment not only upset several ex-Australian players and coaches, but also raised eyebrows in his homeland where Deans remains a revered figure after guiding the Crusaders – and often All Blacks superstars Dan Carter and Richie McCaw – to five Super Rugby crowns.
But after being snubbed by the NZRU, who riled many All Blacks fans by retaining Graham Henry following New Zealand’s 2007 World Cup flop, Deans seized the opportunity to coach their fierce trans-Tasman rivals.
Like a dagger to the hearts of All Blacks supporters, he embraced the Australian challenge and, in his first week in ARU office, Deans fired a warning shot back across the Tasman.
“You’ve got a World Cup coming in New Zealand. It’s a huge opportunity to showcase New Zealand and I really hope they do that well,” he said in the lead-up to his first Test as Wallabies coach in 2008.
“I see my part, the piece of the puzzle, as being to ensure that it’s not a one-horse race and make sure the event itself is competitive.”
Three years on and indeed Australia are ranked second in the world, up from fifth when Deans took charge, and loom as New Zealand’s greatest threat at the seventh World Cup.
It has been a gradual progression for Deans’ Wallabies and there has been plenty of pain – individual and collective – along the way.
After the exhilarating high of Australia’s 34-19 victory in his first Bledisloe Cup clash at the helm came a record 10 successive losses to New Zealand, before the Wallabies finally snapped the sorry streak in Hong Kong last October.
But while he will never say so publicly, it is the World Cup – not the Bledisloe Cup or Tri Nations titles – that has always mattered most to Deans.
Ultra-competitive, the soon-to-be 52-year-old twice smashed through glass back walls while tenaciously trying to run down squash balls in his home town of Christchurch.
His pursuit of the William Webb Ellis Trophy has been just as relentless.
The wily coach has also shown his creativity with the Wallabies – just as he did in offering memorabilia for the peeved squash court owner to auction off, rather than foot the hefty bills for a new back wall.
While carefully phasing out ageing greats like Phil Waugh, Stirling Mortlock and most recently Matt Giteau, Deans has blooded 31 Wallabies newcomers to the Test arena.
Just eight players from the 2007 World Cup campaign remain for the 2011 edition.
Only 30 players could ever make Australia’s World Cup squad and it’s largely come down to timing.
Just ask Peter Hynes, the fleet-footed winger who debuted for Australia the same night Deans did before playing every Test in 2008, but who last week underwent career-saving knee surgery.
Many others have come and gone too, but 18 of Deans’ exciting new-era Wallabies will take part in the seven-week tournament.
None, though, will be prouder than honourary Australian Robbie “Dingo” Deans.
“For me, the opportunity that I’ve got is about helping this group of men to serve their country,” Deans said when first appointed.
“And while I may not have been born in Australia, it doesn’t mean I can’t serve Australia myself.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.