Photos: The candidatesKEY POINTS:
Robbie Deans swatted aside a few pesky flies and probably wished he could do similar to a handful of journalists circling Sydney's Coogee Oval yesterday.
The short-priced favourite to be named new All Blacks coach by the end of the week reluctantly, but politely, obliged with a modest final sales pitch as he braces for today's 90-minute interview at New Zealand Rugby Union headquarters in Wellington.
"I'm not someone that spends a lot of time thinking about outcomes. I'll give it a go, they'll make their choice and we'll move on," he said. "I've obviously been in the game a while which helps, I think. I don't want to talk myself up beforehand but I'm keen, I've got a bit of background, so who knows?"
A bit of background, namely four Super 12/14 titles with the Crusaders.
Deans joined the other Super 14 coaches, including fellow All Blacks aspirants Colin Cooper and Ian Foster, and referees at the annual Sanzar summit where the newly announced experimental law variations (ELV's) were the big topic of conversation.
Other coaches had bigger things on their mind, the Blues' David Nucifora among them.
He knows if the NZRU somehow kicks Deans to touch and remains with the status quo of Graham Henry, then Deans becomes a massive hurdle in his bid to replace John Connolly at the helm of the Wallabies.
The Australian Rugby Union board will not discuss candidates until Friday next week, apparently due to chief executive John O'Neill recovering from neck surgery, by which time the All Blacks coach will be decided.
"I hope he [Deans] does go well," Nucifora said. "You admire people who are successful and he's been incredibly successful. If that's the job he wants he'll present himself well."
So would Nucifora be surprised if Deans missed out on the All Blacks job? "Nothing surprises me in rugby but he's an excellent coach and he's got an excellent record. What more can you ask from the guy?"
Deans claimed he wasn't even entertaining the thought of crossing the Tasman, should his application fail. He hasn't formally applied for the Wallabies job.
Reports have suggested an increasing swell of support for Henry, but the NZRU know if they reject Deans he will be aggressively chased by O'Neill who has always declared him candidate No 1.
"It's not difficult to stay focused because it's just a game. It's great to have an opportunity. We'll deal with that then deal with the next thing," Deans said.
"I've only got one interview. That's pretty straightforward."
Deans meanwhile hailed the eight new ELVs to be introduced for February's Super 14, saying it was a welcome progressive move by Sanzar and the International Rugby Board.
His biggest headache, if named All Blacks coach, will happen in June when the rules revert to the old ones for the home tests against Ireland and England, then back to the new ELV's for the Tri-Nations.
"That'll be a challenge for the players. You train your instincts essentially, so to have to go from one instinctive response in a game to another won't be easy."
He said the Australian Super 14 teams might have the biggest early advantage, having played the Australian Rugby Championship under all the ELV's while the Air New Zealand Cup remained with the status quo.
"It's such a moving target it's going to be a matter of responding to what we see. You could also suggest it's a disadvantage to the Australians because they trialled all 30 [ELV's]."
- NZPA
