Richard Loe: Firing Dingo Deans would be backward move

Robbie Deans. Photo / Getty Images

With Christchurch so devastated by an earthquake - my wife Felicity lost her car when a building fell on it - rugby seems a much more minor subject this weekend, but you wonder if there isn't a big shake-up coming for Australian rugby next weekend.

Let me be clear. I bet Robbie Deans is retained as coach of the Wallabies for the World Cup. Anything else would be ridiculous. However, it is clear he has some forces massing against him and life won't get any easier against the All Blacks on Saturday.

The Wallabies will have played two tough test matches against the Boks, then they have to fly all the way home where the fresh All Blacks are waiting for them.

I also wouldn't read too much into the All Blacks possibly starting players like Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito and Israel Dagg - those guys will be raring to go and to prove themselves from a starting position.

It's a smart move by Graham Henry and no one can call it rotation; he is simply building depth within the squad and he has the luxury of being able to do so because they have already won the Tri Nations.

If the Wallabies lose in Sydney - and there must be a real chance of that, even with a young All Black line-up - the heat will really go on Deans. However, I think he will survive for four reasons: First, he has made progress with this team. Second, there are extenuating circumstances like injuries and lack of depth.

Third, getting rid of Robbie now would be a big backdown by Aussie rugby boss John O'Neill, who is not renowned for backing down. Fourth, there really isn't a replacement. The two top candidates would be David Nucifora - who was got rid of by the Brumbies - and Ewen McKenzie, who was ditched by New South Wales.

Changing horses now would be stupid and a real hospital pass for whoever got the job. I think the brains behind Australian rugby recognise all of that and that's why Robbie will remain.

He's been under the pump too for selection issues and for not using his bench as players tired in the first test against the Boks. My guess is that he felt players on the field - like Will Genia - were so much better than those on the bench that he preferred to stay with them, even if the subs had fresh legs.

Robbie is still obviously building his team for the World Cup and that is what he will be judged on, I feel sure. For last night's test against the Boks, he dropped Dean Mumm and Richard Brown to the bench. He has given both men a lot of chances and I have to say I don't think either of them are really up to it.

Some say some of his selections are awry, but I think he is still building. He selected young No8 Ben McCalman against the Boks last night after dropping Brown and some are puzzled he hasn't turned to the dynamic Reds bruiser Scott Higginbotham. Yes, he looks a good player, but we don't know how he is adapting to the systems within the Wallabies.

Robbie has always stressed that he wants clarity of mind in the Wallabies and insists every player understands the jobs of all the other players. Maybe Higginbotham - like a lot of players who make the step up through club, provincial and Super rugby - is finding the systems in the Wallabies hard to master.

Talking about systems, Sonny Bill Williams clearly needs more time with his Canterbury team-mates, but his debut was interesting. His distribution was good, he made a try-saving tackle and he looked for work all day.

In a match made boring by difficult conditions and some pedantic refereeing, he offloaded superbly - including one that the ref called forward. I think he (the ref) was just confused that anyone could have offloaded at all from that position.

A good debut and I think he will be an ITM Cup star - then let's see what happens.