[Editor’s note: You may have seen him commenting around the traps here… his real name’s Rob & we’ve known each other for … well, a damn long time. I keep pestering him to write, well he has. Enjoy.]
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Robbie Deans.
This is the face of the new Wallabies coach – barring an unexpected disaster.
Deans is the most successful non-international coach involved rugby today. His record in Super rugby is unparalleled, unmatched and unrivaled. He has sustained excellence for well over a decade. Deans has helped to produce some of the most prodigious talents on the world rugby stage. He’s a tactical genius, he gets the best out of his players, he knows how to win…
Oh yeah, and he’s a Kiwi.
When it comes to sports there are few things that I am more passionate about than the Brumbies and the Wallabies. I live and die with each Wallabies game and have massive doses of depression-like symptoms whenever we lose.
I want to see the Wallabies succeed more than anything else I wish for in sports.
The last few years, in fact, the last 6 years, have been mired in a morass of mediocrity – the improbable run to the RWC final in 03 not withstanding. It has been a gradual decline since Rod MacQueen rode off into the sunset. Some bad coaching, no coaching (S-C-R-U-M is not a dirty word), off-field indiscretions (Wendell, Matt Henjak, Lote, Matt Dunning, Wendell again, Mat Rogers, Wendell yet again) and some abject displays have eroded confidence in what used to be the jewel in the crown of Australian sport.
As an Aussie, the thought of a Kiwi coaching our Wallabies is anathema to me. Why not get Jake White or Clive Woodward if you want someone to hate?
But you know, at the end of the day, it’s about winning… and it’s about the best man (or woman) for the job.
Right now Robbie Deans is the best choice available to bring back some respectability to Australian rugby and end the years of ‘over-paid and under-performing’.
Of the other candidates, only David Nucifora has any kind of pedigree to go into the job and he is light years behind Deans in results. Concerns over Deans’ ability to be 100% focused on an Australian victory in a Bledisloe Cup match do no justice to the professionalism of the man nor to ability of any of us to do our job in any situation whether we have conflicting emotions or not.
Rugby, as with so many other sports, is a global game, with a global outlook and options beyond our national boundaries.
In my opinion, Alan Jones has the resume but has been out of the game for too long to be considered a serious contender. If David Nucifora, Ewan MacKenzie, John Muggleton or Laurie Fisher came close to Deans’ resume I would be wholeheartedly supportive of an Australian coach. The fact of the matter is that the best available coach is a Kiwi. Hire him. And if Jake White or Clive Woodward were available? 
As unpalatable as it might be, they would have to be considered because they too have the credentials to help the Wallabies rise from the mire.
It’s time to start
calling him Deansy, buy him a beer… and get with the program!
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With Malice... 
Yep cheers mate! From a one eyed Cantabrian and All Black supporter I hope the Wallabies snap up Deans. I would really enjoy seeing the Wallabies succeed under his leadership.
Indeed, good luck to Robbie. As a Kiwi, I can’t hold this against him — Deans has carefully contemplated his options on offer and it’s up to him to press on with future endeavors that will suit him best. The International arena has always been an attractive thought for Deans in his line of work, the NZRU declined him so now he has another opportunity. I’m sure he will enjoy himself in Australia. Of course during NZ/Aus encounters I’ll always be supportive of the All Blacks, but outside of those battles I may have to cheer for the Wallabies!
Great article Rob, about time you got off your lazy butt & wrote too! 😉
I’ve seen the author of this article travel on a British passport, and as such understand why he has no objections to a foreigner taking over the reigns. I agree that Robbie Deans has the greatest credentials, but is that all that is required? Would a foreign coach have as great an interest in grass roots local rugby? or just fly in to do a job when required? I know the soccer players have done well under foreign coaches before but we’re talking about rugby here. All the best to Robbie but a shame that Australian rugby can not produce its own talent.
personal attacks have no place here Pago!! I agree that it is a shame that we cannot produce our own talent, but that doesn’t mean we should close our eyes to the best available coach. As for grassroots rugby, I would imagine that part of the role of the ARU will be to develop the game from the bottom up. Let Aussie Boy Deans take care of the Wallabies and let the people who administer the game run everything else. I don’t think too many Wallaby coaches have had much to do with the game at other levels beyond Super rugby or representative matches.
Don’t consider it a personal attack mate. I understand that if it was something within your control then you would change it. Regarding the grass rtoots level I disagree and have been to many local club games where a state coach or national coach has been in attendance, perhaps even more so at U19 and U21 matches. Will this still occur if the national coach is in training with the Crusaders? My apologies if incorrect but I thought that Deans still intends to be based in NZ to coach his Super 14 side?
Hey Rob – are my personal attacks the reason I can no longer get you on skype?
I would imagine that he won’t be allowed to coach the Crusaders if he gets the Wallabies job which should free up plenty of time to see all sorts of games over the coming 6-8 months before the international season kicks off again.
Facebook is the new skype, baby.
As for personal attacks… I still have a vivid memory of a certain Saigon hooker being manhandled (a la George Gregan v Goldie Wilson circa 1994) by a 35kg Laotian at the IndoChine Cup a few years back! Don’t make me name names!
I just complete 5 years of therapy and you bring it up again!
– I don’t know of many ‘personal attacks’ nastier than that…
– In a word, yes. He’ll get good money, and if he wants to further his career credential-wise, then he’ll attempt to get the best results possible. That would include encouraging the ARU to further develop rugby at a grassroots level.
I do not think that the ARU will allow Deans to stay with the Crusaders – and nothing I’ve read thus far indicates that he expects to be able to do so, should he land the Wallabies job.
I wasn’t talking to you, put Rob back on.
listen to what Don says – he’s very wise
OK.
“and if he wants to further his career credential-wise, then he’ll attempt to get the best results possible”
What is the next step after improving his credentials with the Wallabies? Returning to NZ to do the same with them? Give it to Alan Jones, he couldn’t do any worse than the last blokes and inviting Deans is just opening up all us Aussie passport carriers to grief from the Kiwis.
Tsk tsk Pago… never upset the guy with the ‘edit’ switch!
I kid, I kid…
Kinda. 😉
Anyway, do you really think it in any way, shape or form furthers Deans in any way, shape or form if he doesn’t do the best possible job with the Wallabies?
Furthering credentials: yes, indeed. There’ll come a time when he’ll quit the Australian team. So? He’s 48 years old… or were you thinking indentured servitude?
😛
Will Deans sign on for the next world cup?
The kiwi coach is only signed for 2 years(is that correct)
I dont want a coach who will jump ship in 2 years ..
Otherwise get the man no matter what nationality.
As one who travels on a British passport – Went to Wales last year!!! – I must say a great article Rob.
As regards the Deans arguement – it is to me, no problem as to having a foreign coach.
Globalisation
kip
Hi Kip…
Yup, agreed. Give me the wins.
Now, if we give the bugger a job & he doesn’t win… that could be a problem! 😉
yep, a great resume and top reputation won’t count for much unless the results start coming. Interesting comparison with Fabio Capello being offered the England footabll manager position. Outstanding track record, success wherever he has gone and once Mourinho stepped out, probably the best man for the job. At least Deans speaks English! Well, kind of!
ROBBIE DEANS HAS JUST SIGNED A 4 YEAR DEAL TO COACH THE WALLABIES
[…] (regular commenter, and bit-writer here as Brumbygg9) Quite simply put, the Patriots are that good, but the […]
I for one, am very, very happy about the coach, and the length of the contract.
Congrats to Robbie Deans and welcome aboard. I heard he only wanted the citizenship anyway. I still don’t understand why he is the most credentialed candidate? He has never coached a national team, and winning a Super 14 comp is not comparable to a World Cup.
How many WC winning coaches applied? He was the best credentialled of the applicants. I could draw you a picture if that would help Pago…..
Welcome back Pago…
Don’t tell me you’re backing Dwyer as a national coach… 😉
Rob… does that mean you’re pulling out the crayons?
yeah – Pago can’t be around sharp objects
Jones had actually coached a national side.
Yep, he has. But the last time he coached was in 80s and a current track record is handy to have.
So we take what the Kiwis didn’t want?
aaaah, that leads me to my next posting which is just waiting on Don to put up…..
I wish the Wallabies well and hope that Deans can lead them to victory in NZ in 2011. I just think that it’s a shame that we have to look to a marginal pacific outposts reject bin to find a coach, and that such a successful and proud rugby nation is unable to develop its own talents.
I’m off to play with my crayons. Over and out on this one.
Up soon Rob. Nice work again.
Up now.
Sports Immigrant? Welcome to the ARU’s latest acquisition!
Brilliant stuff guys… 33 comments? I wish this happened more! 😛
From the challenge aspect side..
Coaching the aussies to a world cup is worth a lot more then coaching the kiwi’s who have far more talent.So if he wins he deserves far more credit.
And when we DO win the next World Cup in NZ,,we will have to listen to the bleating,choking Not So Whites giving us stick about how one of THEM made it happen..
GRRRR..I’ll stick to League..There,,we simply are the best !!!!
withmalice (23:19:33) :
Brilliant stuff guys… 33 comments? I wish this happened more! 😛
Don’t get too excited,Masked Man…Some of us only come here for a perv on the shielas !!!
Hello!
I think this try.