Deans an adopted son in Aussie
July 21, 2008
There is no mistaking the rapidly-increasing admiration club which is welcoming Robbie Deans with open arms into the Wallaby fold.
And there is also no mistaking the size of the challenge that awaits the All Blacks when they land in Sydney late this week to take on the Wallabies in the Tri Nations showdown.
The level of support which Deans is generating has been impossible to ignore since I arrived in Perth last Wednesday to cover the build-up to the Wallaby/Springbok clash at Subiaco Oval.
The respect which the Wallabies, including several senior pros, is readily evident when talking to them.
And it is also the case when talking to ex-Wallabies, including the very-pro Australian and at-times anti-NZ Phil Kearns, and members of their media.
As much as Robbie Deans is enjoying the challenge of taking charge of the Wallabies, the Wallabies love having him on deck.
The Australian outfit the All Blacks will face on Saturday night is a supremely confident one.
But it is also one on the rise.
In their eyes last Saturday's 16-9 win over the world champions was anything but perfect.
Deans and his playing staff concede publicly that they have a lot to work on.
But there was also a lot to like about the nature of the Wallabies' win in Perth, namely the strong character and never say die attitude they displayed when the Boks poured on the pressure in the final 10 minutes.
They were traits which have been seen time and time again by Deans' former Crusaders side in the Super 12 and Super 14.
And they are qualities which will take the side a long way under his coaching.
Other aspects which shouldn't have been lost on the All Black coaching staff was the way the Wallaby pack stood up to the Boks in the forward exchanges and their impressive line-out.
The latter should be a cause for concern, especially if Ali Williams is again troubled by his ankle injury this week.
And the work of George Smith, and then replacement Phil Waugh, showed the necessity of selecting a specialist openside flanker - something which the All Black brains trust neglected to do against the Boks.
The All Blacks will also have to look to increase the speed of ball delivery from the breakdown and set-piece - if Andy Ellis' at-times laboured passing continues, then the All Black backline will be sitting targets for the rushing Wallaby defence.
If there is one thing that the opening three matches of the Tri Nations has shown, then it is that there is very little between the three sides.
And all three matches have been played with a level of physicality, at-times bordering on brutality, which is not for the faint-hearted. It has been good, hard rugby.
The standard of rugby displayed is such that any team that fails to front, even on a minor scale, will come second.
With the countdown on for the long-awaited first All Blacks/Wallabies showdown of the season, who do you rate as favourites?
And if you've watched the Wallabies to date this season, particularly against the Boks, do you think they are on the rise under Deans?
And there is also no mistaking the size of the challenge that awaits the All Blacks when they land in Sydney late this week to take on the Wallabies in the Tri Nations showdown.
The level of support which Deans is generating has been impossible to ignore since I arrived in Perth last Wednesday to cover the build-up to the Wallaby/Springbok clash at Subiaco Oval.
The respect which the Wallabies, including several senior pros, is readily evident when talking to them.
And it is also the case when talking to ex-Wallabies, including the very-pro Australian and at-times anti-NZ Phil Kearns, and members of their media.
As much as Robbie Deans is enjoying the challenge of taking charge of the Wallabies, the Wallabies love having him on deck.
The Australian outfit the All Blacks will face on Saturday night is a supremely confident one.
But it is also one on the rise.
In their eyes last Saturday's 16-9 win over the world champions was anything but perfect.
Deans and his playing staff concede publicly that they have a lot to work on.
But there was also a lot to like about the nature of the Wallabies' win in Perth, namely the strong character and never say die attitude they displayed when the Boks poured on the pressure in the final 10 minutes.
They were traits which have been seen time and time again by Deans' former Crusaders side in the Super 12 and Super 14.
And they are qualities which will take the side a long way under his coaching.
Other aspects which shouldn't have been lost on the All Black coaching staff was the way the Wallaby pack stood up to the Boks in the forward exchanges and their impressive line-out.
The latter should be a cause for concern, especially if Ali Williams is again troubled by his ankle injury this week.
And the work of George Smith, and then replacement Phil Waugh, showed the necessity of selecting a specialist openside flanker - something which the All Black brains trust neglected to do against the Boks.
The All Blacks will also have to look to increase the speed of ball delivery from the breakdown and set-piece - if Andy Ellis' at-times laboured passing continues, then the All Black backline will be sitting targets for the rushing Wallaby defence.
If there is one thing that the opening three matches of the Tri Nations has shown, then it is that there is very little between the three sides.
And all three matches have been played with a level of physicality, at-times bordering on brutality, which is not for the faint-hearted. It has been good, hard rugby.
The standard of rugby displayed is such that any team that fails to front, even on a minor scale, will come second.
With the countdown on for the long-awaited first All Blacks/Wallabies showdown of the season, who do you rate as favourites?
And if you've watched the Wallabies to date this season, particularly against the Boks, do you think they are on the rise under Deans?
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