What are your thoughts of Robbie Deans appointed as the Wallabies coach?

Question

ARU are quite confident with Deans and 4 years contract so Deans can coach Wallabies in 2011 RWC. They say they can win it with Deans. But the public's response was 50/50. So what are your thoughts of Deans as the Wallabies coach?

Answer 1

Whoah, cool post!!!

I sort of agree with at least a little bit of what everyone's posted so far - but at the end of the day I'd say give Deans a couple of seasons & then judge him.

A rugby team playing at that level does need a good coach, but I do agree with Digger's bit about Deans getting the credit from the kiwis when we beat them at some stage in the future.

My take on him staying with the Crusaders is that he's taking the p1ss - he should either come here & coach the Wallabies full time, or give the ARU a call once he's on the lookout for a full time position........ I'd be having a wee chuckle at that one if I was a kiwi. Are they really that much of a bunch of spineless w@nkers at the ARU?? Like icedraw says, it 's not good for either team.

Answer 2

THe NZFU screwed him and the NZ public so I hope he wins every OZ v NZ game for the next four years including the World Cup Final in 4 years time at AMI Park in Christchurch as the Auckland lot just like the NZFU cant get their ducks in a row.

Answer 3

who cares australia just going to get worse and with robbie'shining light'deans as the coach  now wallaby rugby is going to  be dull and boring

Answer 4

I am not impressed.  A professional side of good players need very little coaching.  A good game plan can come from any observant Australian Professional which is what was needed.   The ARU managers are on a different planet.  Can you imagine what will be said by every Kiwi supporter when we beat the All blacks in a game and the Aussie players won't get the recognition but a Kiwi coach will.  Australias shame and embarrassment.

Answer 5

I'm sad we have lost Robbie Deans and that Graham Henry didn't stay in Europe.  I hate to harp on but didn't he say 'judge me on the World Cup result'?  Well I did and I found him wanting!  Deans didn't have any option but apply for the ARU position in light of the NZRU's decision.  I envy the Wallabies!  I hope I'm not making the same bleats after 2001!

Answer 6

People have very short memories....As the coach (and come on lets face it Deans was the real coach and the brains - Not Mitchell) of the 2003 world cup team. He completely stuffed it up then and in the process lost us some of the top players of the time (anyone remember Cullen or Randell?). Yep,  No doubt hes a great coach at Super 14 level when he has his beloved Crusaders around him. But only time will tell if he can cut it with the Wallabies. Good luck to the Aussies I say!!

Answer 7

Deans will be good for Australian Rugby . He will drag it into the modern rugby ethos .. Forward thinking  strategic management is what the Aussie rugby requires and deans will put a renewed stamp on things .. Shake the game up and introduce a culture which might not go down well with some of the old staid ex wallabies but will bring the Wallabies into the today and not ages past ..

Deans should have given the Crusaders the flick though .. I dont think it is in the best interests of either the Crusaders or the Wallabies to be having a foot in each camp

Answer 8

Go Deans hes going to waste the all blacks from 2009. Next year hes going to experiment with players and lose and then hes going to go all out and beat everybody

Answer 9

i say give the man a go, and then judge afterwards!

Answer 10

I believe that Deans will help Aus win  the 2011 world cup. He has a point to prove. Another complete balls up  by the NZRU. Graham Henry's 2007 AB side couldn't even get past the quarters, so they give him another chance. Go figure.

As a kiwi, I say "Go Aus!"

btw. Deans needed to be seen as not wanted, not as a deserter. That's why he wanted to stay with the Crusaders. The NZRU had to let him, in order to prevent a PR disaster that would cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Answer 11

AH well ...they should have rather gotten that coach that led SA to victory this past WC.

Answer 12

Yep,he will be an asset for Aust Rugby,there's going to be a h**l lot of changes to the wallabies under the guidance of Robbie..

Answer 13

We have a modern thinking coach.  Now all we need is some good forwards

Answer 14

Deans knows RC and DC better than any coach. He has pretty much made them Allblacks.  

Does the fact that new Aussie coach has had such a heavy hand in the careers of both the Allblack captain and key play maker worry anyone ?

I'm sure it doesn't worry the Aussies.

Wrong. Fully wrong.

Answer 15

He is going to have one helluva task because he will not have the depth of players he enjoys being the Crusaders coach.     My one reservation is the NZRFU letting Deans continue as the Crusaders coach in 08 knowing that in this professional era Deans will divulge all the secrets he knows about this team and other NZ strategies.

Answer 16

It doesn't matter what nationality the coach is! As long as he is the best man for the job and Australia improves and wins more matches particularly when playing overseas the wallabies will get credit for performing. I think the Wallabies are going to be a stronger team over the next four years compared to the last four years even with their experienced players leaving and Deans will be a main reason for that.