'Dingo' Deans seeks his dream on home soil
When Kiwi-born Robbie Deans left his post at the Canterbury Crusaders to take control of the Wallabies, one of the first thoughts he shared with his supporters was the difficulty he would face in coaching against his native New Zealand.
Three years later, he faces that very dilemma on the biggest stage - a World Cup semi-final showdown on Sunday between his team by profession, the Wallabies, and his beloved All Blacks.
A few days after it was announced that Deans would be leaving the Crusaders at the conclusion of the 2008 season, he released a statement on the club website:
“It is both flattering and humbling that the Australian Rugby Union has afforded me this opportunity. While it will no doubt be an interesting position to be in, coaching against New Zealand; it is not without precedent, and will add to my personal development as a coach - as it has done for others before me.”
The Aussies may have quickly adopted him as ‘Dingo Deans’ but the coach’s roots remain well and truly buried in the soil of Canterbury.
Born in the north of the region, Deans earned 146 caps playing fly half for the Canterbury provincial rugby side and managed five Tests for the All Blacks between 1983 and 1985.
Record success
His coaching career followed a similar path. He had a championship year at the helm of Canterbury in 1997 before being named the coach of the inaugural Canterbury Crusaders Super Rugby franchise the following season.
Ten years and five titles later, including a two-year stint as All Blacks assistant coach, Deans walked away the most successful coach in Super Rugby history to take up Australia’s offer.
The first non-Australian to ever hold the role, Deans survived widespread criticism as results initially suffered while he confidently blooded young guns such as Quade Cooper and James O'Connor.
A triumphant return to his homeland at Rugby World Cup 2011 was always his goal.
Deans' greatest achievement at the helm was unquestionably the Wallabies’ recent 25-20 defeat of the All Blacks in Brisbane to claim the 2011 Tri Nations title for the first time in a decade.
But the stakes are even higher this time round, not that the 52-year-old is showing it.
Professional focus
He's pretty dead-pan, isn't he?" said Australia coaching coordinator David Nucifora. "He doesn't change much. He's just getting on and going about his job and preparing the team.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s New Zealand or anyone else - he’s just very focused getting the team as best prepared as possible.”
In August this year Deans secured his coaching future beyond the World Cup by signing a two-year extension that will see him retain the Australian position until 2013.
While many will judge Deans on how his team stands up to the might of the All Blacks at Eden Park on Sunday, there is at least one Wallaby who is pleased he will be sticking around.
"I think the biggest thing you notice about Robbie is that he really cares about all the players," said Wallaby scrum half Luke Burgess. "He really tries to make the effort to speak to them on an individual basis, communicates what he wants specifically from each individual.
“That’s really helpful and it goes a long way to developing connections within the team. That’s the biggest thing that I’ve noticed under his tenure.
"It's been really rewarding being a part of a Wallabies side with him as coach."
But while the semi-final result may not affect Deans’ immediate coaching future, it might have more lasting repercussions for a small piece of New Zealand bearing his name.
In January 2010 the Deans Stand at the redeveloped AMI Stadium in Christchurch was officially opened. However, the devastating February 22 earthquake means the future of the unstable grandstand is now uncertain.
If Deans’ Wallabies knock over the All Blacks on Sunday, its fate might just be sealed.