KEY POINTS:
Robbie Deans is a near certainty to become All Blacks rugby coach while David Nucifora is a pronounced favourite for the Wallabies' job, according to Australian bookmakers.
Lasseters Sportsbook released its market today for the All Blacks' coaching job, rating Deans an almost unbackable favourite after the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) narrowed the shortlist to four candidates yesterday.
Deans was rated a skinny A$1.05 to succeed Graham Henry, who has reapplied but was rated an A$8 chance to retain his job.
The other contenders, Colin Cooper and Ian Foster, were both A$11 outsiders.
Auckland Blues coach Nucifora was meanwhile rated a A$1.50 favourite to succeed John Connolly as Wallabies coach, while broadcaster Alan Jones, who coached the national side with success in the 1980s, was a A$2.50 second favourite.
- NZPA
