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The man tipped to be the first foreigner to coach the Wallabies - New Zealander Robbie Deans - returned fire to the critics who doubted a Kiwi would make a passionate Australian rugby coach after being interviewed for the job in Brisbane on last night.
"I've got a passion for the game, I love this game. I love a challenge," he said after a two-hour meeting with a five-strong Wallabies coaching selection panel.
"I really enjoy the people in the game. I probably have as many connections here as I do at home - I've been in SANZAR rugby for 11 years now."
Deans also paid no heed to cynics describing the Wallabies job as his "second choice" after the successful Crusaders coach missed out on the All Blacks job last Friday to Graham Henry.
"Everyone is aware of that (he applied for the All Blacks job). But I want to coach at the international level," he said.
"I believe I have done my apprenticeship. I enjoy working with people and achieving outcomes and I see a great opportunity here - I would give it 100 per cent as I always do."
Deans said he would walk away from his Super 14 coaching job at the Crusaders if he was handed the Wallabies reins.
While the Australian Rugby Union is believed to be happy for Deans or rival candidate David Nucifora to continue coaching in the Super 14 before joining the Wallabies, the NZRU board are not expected to take a favourable view when they discuss their future on Wednesday.
Asked if he would leave the Crusaders if named Australian coach, Deans said: "ultimately I would have to, the question is at what point."
Deans flew in from Christchurch to face the selection panel after the ARU sought out the Kiwi almost a month after interviewing Nucifora, Ewen McKenzie, John Muggleton, Laurie Fisher and Alan Jones for the Wallabies job.
The Wallabies selection panel will add their recommendations on Deans' candidacy for the job to those of the five Australians who were interviewed for the position on November 9.
"You are never confident. You just give it your best shot, and you hope to hit the mark - I guess time will tell," Deans said of his chances after a "thorough" interview.
"They (panel) got pretty deep. They got below the surface not only in terms of myself but also the game."
Asked what he could bring to Australian rugby, Deans said: "Every coach hopefully makes a difference.
"My plan would be to make a positive difference. I've got ideas but I won't go into them here, I haven't got the job yet."
- 2007 AAP
