Most coffins only have one final nail. The coffin for Robbie Deans as Wallabies coach seems to have more than one.
After a lacklustre World Cup campaign, four years in the making, that saw the Wallabies unconvincingly battle their way to the semi-finals with a more than capable playing squad, many thought Deans’ days at the helm of Australian rugby were all over.
They were wrong. The undertaker wasn’t done with the coffin; he still had a couple more nails to go.
Deans lost to Scotland in 2009, the first time since 1982. In 2012 he went back to back against the Scots with a 9-6 loss on home soil making it all the more embarrassing.
The fat lady was singing, but the undertaker glared at her, he hadn’t finished the coffin.
The Spring Tour of 2012 saw France dispose of the Wallabies with a 33-6 victory. Italy came within centimetres of a draw with Australia.
Against England, the Wallabies were victorious and played their best match of the tour, but even that performance wasn’t something to boast about.
And if it wasn’t for some last minute heroics in Cardiff, the Wallabies would have gone down to Wales.
Apart from Michael Hooper and Nick Cummins bursting onto the scene, there weren’t too many positives from the tour.
The tombstone was now well out of date, but that didn’t faze the undertaker, apparently three ‘final nails’ weren’t enough. Deans was still the Wallabies coach.
By this time, Deans and the undertaker had come into contact several times and had struck up quite the friendship.
In light of ‘Aussie Robbie’ becoming the equal most capped Wallabies coach with Bob Dwyer, after the Wales match last December, the undertaker and Deans celebrated in style.
Though the celebrations didn’t quite reach the eerie heights of those with Graham Henry after the 2011 World Cup, Deans was just happy to let his hair down after his first season without Rocky Elsom.
Deans is now arguably the most scrutinised figure in the country after Julia Gillard and has only a few supporters left, one of them the undertaker.
When Deans was criticised for omitting Quade from the ‘logistics’ camp a few weeks ago, at least he had the shoulder of the undertaker to lay his head on.
In a couple of months this friendship reaches a crossroads. That is, the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
It is hard to envy the position Robbie Deans is currently in. The selection headaches wouldn’t be the only thing keeping him up at night.
The thought of losing a friend would be playing heavily on his mind. Because if Deans loses the series he can kiss his job as Wallabies head coach goodbye.
And in a cruel twist of fate, his new best friend, the undertaker will be the one putting his position as Australian coach to rest.
The Lions will arrive on Australian shores with a strong outfit, one that believes they can beat the Wallabies. They will be desperate for a series win after coming off second best in their last three tours.
‘Dingo’ Deans has his work cut out.
A nail now precariously rests on the coffin. The undertaker struggles to look at it.
With a series loss against The Lions, it will be ‘the’ final nail in the coffin. Deans’ reign will come to an end.
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