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RUGBY: Arrogant panel burns bridges with Deans
By GREG FORD - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 09 December 2007

Robbie Deans should be confirmed as Wallabies coach within the next fortnight with Australian Rugby Union boss John O’Neill poised to poach the rejected All Blacks contender.

A bitter Deans failed to oust Graham Henry from the All Blacks job on Friday and indicated yesterday that he believed the New Zealand Rugby Union board made the decision before the appointment process began.

“I entered it in good faith and in the hope it wasn’t a done deal and in the hope I could convince the people involved I was worthy of belief,” said Deans.

"That’s all you can do. Obviously when you come out of the process you spend a bit of time contemplating what you could have said differently.

"But in the end it probably doesn’t make much of a difference. That detail doesn’t make much of a difference.

"People have an idea in mind as to what they want and they pursue that …

"I guess what I was seeking out of the process was if they wanted me. They don’t.

“So we have clarity.”

For its part the NZRU denies Henry’s re-appointment was a fait accompli, adding it is desperate to ensure Deans does not go the way of Warren Gatland and join the exodus of top talent overseas.

But Deans, after swallowing this week’s bitter pill, told the Sunday Star-Times his desire to coach at the international level sooner rather than later was undiminished.

With his pathway to the All Blacks now blocked, almost certainly until 2012, New Zealand’s loss appears to be Australia’s gain.

“Obviously the Australians have expressed an interest, as everyone is aware, and they have been very respectful in the way they have handled that,” said Deans. “They have recognised I wanted to have a crack at the All Blacks and gave me the opportunity. What happens from here I don’t know but I certainly appreciated their ethics.”

Deans will still coach the Crusaders in the Super 14 but he also confirmed his association with the franchise, which dates to 1997 when he was appointed manager, is near its end.

“There are some good people coming through at the Crusaders. I am working with a good man and a good coach at the moment in Mark Hammett and those blokes deserve a crack at some point, with Todd Blackadder coming through at Tasman as well. I don’t want to impede their progress.”

That will be music to O’Neill’s ears. If the often-accurate Australia rumour mill is to be believed, the ARU has offered Deans a $1m salary.

Deans was coy on how the next week would unfold.

The ARU board is due to discuss a shortlist of five candidates for the job on Thursday. Deans isn’t on it, but his name should be added in the coming days.

“If there is willingness from their side and they were keen to have me and I felt it was appropriate for me and my family then that could become a possibility,” said Deans.

“But right at the minute that subject has not been broached.”

Henry was re-appointed for two years but is widely expected to have his contract extended until the 2011 cup.

He said it would be a shame if Deans left New Zealand.

“I think Robbie has to make his own decisions,” said Henry. "I have a huge amount of respect for Robbie as a rugby coach. He has done a superb job with the Crusaders and I would imagine he would coach the All Blacks at some stage.

“He should think about how old the current coach is [61, Deans is 48] and I hope he does. He deserves that opportunity at some stage.”

IN AN IRONIC TWIST THE CHAIR OF NZRU IS DEANS’ BROTHER IN LAW…THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS DINNER MAY BE INTERESTING :stuck_out_tongue:

122

I think AB’s might regret this one.
No reflection on Henry, but why give someone the job for just 2 years? Why not the full 4?

I can’t say I know Deans, just met him once, but he impressed me, he is a leader and appears like a very good man manager.

123

Although interestingly there was strong public support for Henry to be reappointed I don’t know if the decision would have found favor if it had been for 4 years.

Deans and the environment at the Crusaders is legendary for taking unwanted players from the Super Rugby draft* and turning them into stars. Of particular interest is how when they have left that environment they have regressed.

  • the draft is different from that in some other codes in that each franchise can choose to protect players from their region, after that anyone can be picked by another franchise.
124

From my point of view I have to ask is it ‘Support’ or ‘Sympathy’?

125

As for the Canterbury system - this is part of the magic of the black and red.

I think Asutralia might find out how effective that is soon!

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The Australian job should go to a person who has this job as his first priority, not a fall back. The man for the job is David Nucifora.

127

hmmmm

deans is an absolute legend, crusaders are a champion team. hopefully we wont regret this in 2011 if australia win…

128

agree on both counts but doubt he will get it as I think the Brumbies mutiny and Ali Williams affair will rule him out.

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But can you imagine how motivated he could be to prove the NZRFU have blundered. Next seasons Bledisloe could be quite interesting if Deans get the Aussie job :slight_smile:

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I believe the Brumbies mutiny is a sign of what has been wrong in Australia. Players seem to forget they are players and there is a coach with the job of coaching. Many of those ‘senior’ players responsible are now gone.

Whoever gets the job must be given full support, and if players feel they are not getting enough hugs and ego squeezing from the coach and want to have a regular cry, then go find the door.

131

again you’ll get no argument from me on that. Having John O’Neill in charge will help his cause, he has never struck me as one to lead a session of singing Kombayah :stuck_out_tongue:

It is astounding the NZRU only this week will be deciding what happens if Nucifora or Deans get the Wallaby job and how that will impact them coaching NZ Super 14 teams…oh yeah never thought of that :rolleyes:

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Deans named new Wallabies coach
By MARC HINTON - RugbyHeaven | Friday, 14 December 2007

New Zealand’s Robbie Deans has become the first foreigner to be appointed Wallabies coach, with the Australian Rugby Union today confirming a four-year deal for the man the All Blacks didn’t want.

Deans, who is also coach of the Crusaders in the Super 14, was unveiled at ARU headquarters today as the new Wallabies supremo with officials saying they were rapt to have what they believe is the “best person for the job”.

The ARU also confirmed that Deans will be allowed to see out his commitments with the Crusaders in next year’s Super 14, with the New Zealand Rugby Union also announcing that Deans was cleared to continue in the role despite his new status.:eek: :rolleyes:

ARU Chairman Peter McGrath said: "Robbie comes with a superb record. The ARU board presented the selection panel with a brief to find the most outstanding candidate. We consider this appointment satisfies that objective.

"The Australian public would expect nothing less from us and we see this as a new start for Australian rugby. In terms of our playing ranks, we are on the doorstep of generational change. We believe Robbie Deans is the man to move us into that new era.

“He has created history today by becoming the first non-Australian to coach the Wallabies. We trust there are further historic achievements awaiting him and the Wallabies over the next four years on the road to the 2011 World Cup.”

It now sets up the intriguing prospect of Deans going head to head with Graham Henry for the Bledisloe Cup in a contest that will have all sorts of repercussions.

Deans lost out in a contentious and controversial battle with Henry for the All Blacks position, after the four-time Super 14 winning coach had put the Wallabies job on the back-burner to pursue his ambition of becoming New Zealand coach.

Should Deans succeed and regain the Bledisloe silverware over the three trans-Tasman tests next year (two of which will be in Australia) he would gain the ultimate revenge after being shunned by the NZRU who elected to reappoint Henry despite this year’s World Cup failure and the compelling credentials of the Crusaders maestro.

However the Australians showed how much they value the 48-year-old Crusaders coach by allowing him to make a late application for the Wallabies job after his All Black ambitions were thwarted.

He was interviewed in Brisbane on Tuesday, and Australian media have speculated he was to be offered an annual package of close to $1 million a year to take up the job.

ARU deputy chief executive Matt Carroll denied that this had been accurate.

“I don’t divulge what we pay any of our executives but I can assure you it’s nowhere near the sum of money being talked about in the media,” said Carroll, confirming that the negotiation process had been a “speedy” one.

“He’s being paid appropriately for the coach of a major national sport in Australia and commensurate with what other national coaches are paid for rugby around the world.”

The ARU said there had been no discussions about Deans’ assistant coaches as yet, and that would be sorted out between CEO John O’Neill (currently convalescing from recent neck surgery) and Deans after Christmas.

At this stage there was no indication whether these would be Australians, or whether Deans might prefer to work with a fellow Kiwi or two.

“That’s a matter of ongoing discussion with Rob and the CEO,” added McGrath.

“I’m sure he will want the best team around him and certainly we will want the best team around the Wallabies.”

McGrath also danced around suggestions that Australia now had the chance to “hurt” New Zealand rugby by taking up one of their finest coaches who they had rejected.

“I see our decision as appointing the best person for the job. This is about us looking at the performance of the Wallabies and the performance of our high-performance area and we’re delighhted with the decision,” added McGrath.

But Carroll did admit “we often like to hurt New Zealand rugby on the field” and suggested the 2008 Bledisloe Cup series would now be an “interesting challenge”.

The ARU officials said Deans’ situation as he saw out his Crusaders commitments would be “carefully managed”, though they did not foresee any problems at a time when relations between the trans-Tasman rivals were cordial.

Said Carroll: "I spoke to their incoming CEO last night to advise him of the board’s decision. He said to offer his congratulations to Robbie and ourselves and his words were ‘look after him’, which we will do.

“They’re quite happy with the decision and obviously know we’ll be in contact with him during the time he’s still with the Crusaders.”

Carroll said Deans’ “man-management” skills had been the feature that had most impressed the panel that made the decision.

“He’s a hands-on coach who will be involved with the players on a daily basis. The time is right for that style of coach with where we sit in the pecking order of world rugby which is far from where we want to be.”

And McGrath denied that choosing the first non-Australian coach of the Wallabies would upset “true-blue” Wallaby fans.

They had selected the “best coach” to help the Wallabies play winning rugby and he said he was sure “true-blue” fans would be delighted with that.

“This is a professional sport and it’s just another step in the maturing of our game,” added McGrath when asked about the wisdom of taking up a coach whose first choice had not been the Wallabies role.

Still, the appointment will not be without controversy, with a number of former Wallabies players and coaches expressing their displeasure at the imminent Deans appointment.

Carroll said at the announcement he believed the number in favour of the decision would be far greater.

O’Neill has had his sights on Deans for some time now, and, conveniently, serious neck problems that have left the Australian rugby boss bedridden have allowed them to stall the appointment process.

Deans is currently in Christchurch where he is taking his Crusaders through pre-season preparations and will head to Sydney tomorrow to finalise details and undertake media obligations.

The ARU confirmed he will move to Sydney at the end of his Crusaders commitments.

The unsuccessful candidates for the Australian job were David Nucifora of the Blues, Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie, broadcaster Alan Jones, Laurie Fisher of the Brumbies and Wallabies assistant John Muggleton.

ROBBIE DEANS’ RECORD

PLAYING CAREER

Position: Fullback. Provincial team: Canterbury. Provincial Caps: 146. Provincial Points: 1641 (Canterbury record). Test Caps: 5. Test points: 50 (4c, 14p). Test Debut: v Scotland at Edinburgh (12 November 1983). Test Cap Number: 841.

COACHING CAREER

2000-present: Crusaders head coach. 2001-2003: All Blacks assistant coach. 1997-2000: Canterbury.

COACHING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Canterbury: National Provincial Championship: 1997. Ranfurly Shield: 2000.

Crusaders: Super Rugby titles: 2000, 2002*, 2005, 2006. Super Rugby runners-up: 2003, 2004. Win/Loss Ratio: 76/115

  • Won all 13 competition matches

All Blacks: Bledisloe Cup: 2003. Tri-Nations: 2002, 2003. Win/Loss Ratio: 22/4 (1 draw).

Other: New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year award 2002.

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Interesting developments mate!

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RWC mistakes admitted but key figures keep jobs
Friday, 18th April 2008

WELLINGTON: Results from the autopsy of New Zealand’s World Cup failure are in at last.

The result? No heads will roll.

A 47-page independent review yesterday found a range of decisions and actions in the 18 months leading up to the 2007 tournament contributed to New Zealand’s galling 18-20 quarterfinal loss to France in Cardiff last October.

The corpse of anguish was exhumed in the form of a $130,000 review prepared by Auckland lawyer Mike Heron and Sport and Recreation New Zealand official Don Tricker.

It focused most critically on the ‘‘over emphasis’’ placed on the four-yearly tournament by the NZRU, which had, in turn, erred by agreeing to the controversial conditioning programme of coach Graham Henry.

That programme was found to have impacted negatively on all levels of the game and on the very players it was designed to improve when they were removed from the first half of the Super 14.

In its most damning assessment, the review found that the players were left lacking in ‘‘quality game time’’ before they played France.

‘‘The All Blacks were effectively in pre-season mode playing in a world-class competition with and against matchhardened players,’’ the report said.

‘‘Their match fitness and skill levels were not at the required level . . . the contact component of the conditioning programme was too little, too late there was too much training completed against static opponents.’’

NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs and Henry yesterday agreed mistakes had been made, but nobody will pay the price for the All Blacks’ failure.

Henry was voted unanimously back into his job by the board in December, followed by most of his support staff.

Hobbs said the review had shown nothing to suggest Henry’s reappointment was premature.

‘‘Graham was subject to a detailed performance review and then a contestable appointment process. He had to prove he was the best person for the job. He did,’’ Hobbs said.

‘‘But I’m sure Graham has learned through this process. It’s not business as usual. There will be some changes.’’

Hobbs said ‘‘collectively we all are’’ accountable, with his board having approved the conditioning programme, deemed by the report to have been a brave decision, but in hindsight the wrong one.

‘We are very sorry we failed at Cardiff and the disappointment and frustration this has caused our supporters.’’

Hobbs defended the timing of the review, saying it needed 4 1 /2 months in order to leave no stone unturned. Forty-one players, coaches, officials and stakeholders were interviewed.

Henry accepted the report’s criticism of the conditioning programme, particularly its impact on the whole of New Zealand rugby in 2007.

‘‘I underestimated that impact, quite frankly,’’ Henry said.

But he launched a burning defence of his captain, Richie McCaw, and the team attitude in the ill-fated quarterfinal match. ‘‘We did not take this game lightly,’’ Henry said. ‘‘We prepared as well as we had for four years with the All Blacks. They were humming.’’

Henry said players from the failed 1999 and 2003 campaigns had spoken earlier in the week about World Cup play-offs but Henry did not want to overload the team mentally.

The review found that the leadership group which Henry had long promoted was found wanting, and the decision not to attempt a dropped goal in the quarterfinal remiss.

The passionate French display, the performance of English referee Wayne Barnes who did not award a New Zealand penalty for the last 45min and an escalating injury toll in the second half all combined to build pressure.

‘‘In the dying minute of that critical game, the leadership model failed to deliver what was its most important objective decisions which give the best chance of winning the game,’’ the review said.

Henry confirmed for the first time that he had sent a message out to McCaw to consider a dropped goal, but fully accepted the captain’s decision not to press for one.

‘‘There was a young five-eighth playing at the time Luke McAlister. Richie’s decision was that it wasn’t appropriate to put the acid on him.

‘‘If Daniel Carter had been there at the time, it may have been a different decision that Richie made.’’ NZPA

http://www.odt.co.nz/article.php?refid=2008,04,18,21,02100,112cb6e20443f87906deb7a07626cf00&sect=6

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Hmmm … very interesting … no heads will roll - but the whole conditioning staff have gone … what is that saying?

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scapegoats, they implemented Henry’s plan.
[i]
The review said the programme was based on a sound premise but that the implementation was “not optimal” because there was a lack of consultation with Super 14 franchises and other shareholders in the game such as broadcasters and fans.

Testing showed the programme produced better athletes but said this did not translate into success at the World Cup for an obvious reason.

“One impact of the conditioning programme that was under estimated was the effectiveness of the players returning to rugby and the dent in confidence that some experienced from not having played.” [/i]

from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10504408&pnum=2