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SYDNEY - Wallabies coach John Connolly has urged the Australian Rugby Union to show faith in a home-grown candidate as New Zealander Robbie Deans firms as the next Wallabies' coach.
Connolly intends to step down after the World Cup in October and he wants a local coach to succeed him.
"I would support whatever decision the ARU made. But personally, I would like to see an Aussie get the job," Connolly told The Sunday Telegraph.
"I was offered the Ireland job in 1996 and I knocked it back because the interest is not the same coaching another country.
"Can you imagine an Englishman or a New Zealander standing there singing our national anthem?
"In terms of coaching and development, the quality of Australian coaches is very good. We have several who are up to it. My personal hope is that an Australian will get the job."
It has been widely reported that Deans, a four-time Super 12/14-winning coach with the Canterbury Crusaders, is poised to replace Connolly.
"Who knows down the track? You just don't know and you don't rule anything out," Deans told Sydney radio last month.
"Clearly someone knows more than I do. All of those decisions will be made in due course. I've got absolutely no idea where my next contract will be.
"Having said that, I'm contracted to the Crusaders next year."
Deans admitted to visiting the ARU headquarters last month but said the coaching job wasn't on the agenda.
But ARU official Pat Wilson, a friend of Deans, has reportedly admitted he and Deans have discussed the possibility of the former All Blacks fullback taking up the post.
- AFP
