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BRISBANE - Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock has defended the Australian Rugby Union's controversial coaching selection process and welcomed New Zealander Robbie Deans' belated candidature.
Mortlock underlined the importance of appointing the best coach to lead Australia and said he and his test teammates would have no issues playing under Deans.
Without throwing his weight behind one particular candidate, Mortlock's support of Deans' late bid and coaching record has added to the Crusaders mentor's apparent stranglehold on the position.
Deans, expected to become the Wallabies' first overseas coach, is set to be interviewed for the job on Wednesday, more than a month after five original short-listed candidates went before the selection committee.
Although the process has been criticised as a "circus", "sham" and "waste of time", Mortlock disagreed.
"It's a very important decision for the future of Australian rugby moving forward and not one that you want to rush and you want to make sure you make the right decision and get the right candidate," he said.
"I don't think there is any drama in going a little bit longer than what was initially expected.
"(Deans) has been an integral part of the Crusaders for the last (eight) years and he's taken them to four titles so that speaks for itself.
"That's not just by chance. He's got amazing credentials and a great win-loss ratio as well."
The preferred choice of Australian Rugby Union supremo John O'Neill all year, Deans became available when New Zealand's hierarchy made the shock decision to retain Graham Henry as All Blacks coach.
The ARU board is due to receive on Thursday the six-man panel's nomination as John Connolly's successor.
It's rare that Connolly and his predecessor Eddie Jones agree but both are staunch opponents of the top coaching job going to a foreigner.
Mortlock agreed with veteran test fullback Chris Latham that no current Wallabies would have a problem playing under Deans and he would quickly take the No 5-ranked nation forward.
"I think one reason for having a lot of wind at the moment is the fact that rugby hasn't been professional for that long," Mortlock said.
"If you look at most professional sports it's all about who's best for the job and not so much about the nationality."
The bigger headache will lie with the NZRU if Deans wins the job as they must decide whether to allow him to finish his contract at the helm of the Crusaders, where he coaches leading All Blacks Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter, or cut him immediately to the chagrin of many Kiwis.
The NZRU meets on Wednesday to discuss the issue, which also involves Auckland-based Wallabies candidate David Nucifora, but it's understood they will wait until next week to announce their decision.
"Our preference is not for (Deans and Nucifora) or any of our outstanding coaches to lead the arch-enemy but they're free to ply their trade as is their will," said NZRU deputy chief Steve Tew.
Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said there was a "compelling case" for Deans to finish the 2008 Super 14 season in Christchurch.
"The Crusaders board is absolutely behind him doing the 2008 campaign, regardless of what international job he would get," Riach said.
"We have made that view known strongly to the NZRU."
If successful, Deans will lock horns with Henry on the international stage for the first time on July 26 when Australia play the All Blacks in a Tri-Nations Test in Sydney.
Although there is speculation from across the Tasman that Western Force coach John Mitchell could assist Deans, it is extremely unlikely the duo who failed New Zealand at the 2003 World Cup would be reunited.
- AAP
