Robert Maxwell Deans, is the first New Zealander to be appointed Wallabies coach – and it is an appointment that will no doubt do wonders not only for the national team, but for the international scene in general. 

I will not say that he was unfairly dumped by the New Zealand Rugby Union. Graham Henry, with a 42-6 test match record as All Blacks coach and strong political connections, was always going to provide stiff competition to the successful Deans for the highest profile position in New Zealand after the Prime Minister. 

But he was unfairly treated in the end.  He was not even called by the NZRU after Graham Henry was reappointed All Blacks coach – after new NZRU CEO Steve Tew had allegedly said he would be in touch to ensure Deans stayed in New Zealand. It was a Warren Gatland case all over again. Gatland, coach of the 2006 provincial champions Waikato, was snubbed and is now coach of the Welsh rugby team. The NZRU remain arrogant enough to not even give the basic assurances to their elite coaches. 

‘He will inherit a Wallabies team in the middle of huge change following the retirement of two of the game’s greats – Stephen Larkham and George Gregan.’


They were reported as saying that they allowed Deans to remain coach of the Canterbury Crusaders due to his distinguished service to New Zealand Rugby. But I believe that it would have been more due to the perceived disadvantage that Deans will have moving to the Wallabies post so quickly after concluding his outstanding career with the Canterbury province.

Deans' coaching career really started in 1997 when he led Canterbury to victory over Auckland (coached by Henry) for the first time in 14 years and they went on to win the domestic championship. In 1998 and 1999 Deans was appointed manager of the Crusaders Super 12 team coached by Wayne Smith, and helped win two titles on the trot. 

In 2000 he became the head coach of the Canterbury Crusaders, while remaining coach of the provincial team who lost the final to Wellington 34-29. Crusaders went on to win their third straight Super 12 title, beating the ACT Brumbies in Canberra. In 2002, 2005 and 2006 the world's most successful domestic rugby team won the Super rugby championship, as well as being runners-up in 2003 and 2004. Deans was also assistant All Blacks coach until 2003 and will bring a huge amount of enemy intelligence to the Australian shores.

Of course, you could argue that coaching is an easy job with such immense talent available in New Zealand rugby.  Indeed, this will be Deans' greatest challenge in the Wallabies' position, with depth much shallower than he has ever encountered in Canterbury or NZ.

But Deans himself is as responsible as any one man for the depth of talent in the provinces.

He will inherit a Wallabies team in the middle of huge change following the retirement of two of the game’s greats – Stephen Larkham and George Gregan. While the Australians always provided strong challenges to the might of the All Blacks, they never really looked a settled team under previous coach John Connelly after falling to pieces following eight consecutive losses at the end of Eddie Jones’ reign.

But they have a young forward pack that has remained settled over the last 24 months, and a backline loaded with world-class talent with the likes of Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock, Lote Tuqiri and Chris Latham. 

Deans will no doubt implement a similar playing style that the Crusaders wield:

  • Intimidating defence that focuses on the loose forwards being linked to first-up tacklers to allow for constant threat of opposition turnover;
  • Backline play that operates under quick link attack that allows for wide counter offensive running;
  • Punishment of any enemy mistake that leads to consistent points conversion – but beyond anything else, the long stated rugby mantra of championship team rather than team of champions.

He will ensure that the basics of rugby union football are strictly adhered to, and with the implementation of the new experimental law variations in 2008 (effectively, to speed up the game) Deans will be – as his reputation precedes him – consistently one step ahead of his opposition, with thorough technical analysis.

I believe Deans’ greatest asset with this Wallaby team will be the high intelligence frequently on display by their senior players (Tuqiri and Matt Dunning aside). Long have I compared interviews between New Zealand and Australian players. While I believe that the All Blacks are the most naturally gifted players in world rugby, I have long believed that the Wallabies are the most intelligent.

And with a coach with an immense record, passion and like intelligence, the Wallabies will no doubt re-emerge as a world rugby power in 2008.  Bring on the Bledisloe ...