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MARSEILLE - New Zealand's shock loss to France has likely pushed Robbie Deans out of Australia's clutches as the next Wallabies coach and put him firmly in line to take charge of the All Blacks, says Australian rugby chief John O'Neill.
Deans, the successful Canterbury Crusaders coach, has been linked with the Wallabies job if he didn't take over from 61-year-old Graham Henry.
But O'Neill, who is chairing a selection panel to replace outgoing Wallabies coach John Connolly, admitted that Deans may be now lost to the Australians after the All Blacks' defeat.
"With New Zealand's surprise defeat to France, Robbie Deans will clearly be a candidate for the All Black job, I would imagine," O'Neill said.
"It could take him out of the running for the Wallabies coach, but we will assess that in the next 10 days or so."
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) expect to announce their new national coach next month after an interviewing process of candidates.
"The process is under way, the job's been advertised and we have a selection panel, which I'm chairing. We'll start interviews now and in early November we'll be in a position to make a recommendation to the board," O'Neill said. "It's a critical appointment as we start to rebuild and really re-engineer Australian rugby.
"[Forwards coach] Michael Foley will be staying on, we have to let the dust settle a bit and then we'll have discussions with [backs coach] Scott Johnson and [defence coach] John Muggleton.
"First things first, we'll get the new national coach appointed and then look at the team we put in around him.
"The preferred option is the best person for the job and if that is an Australian that would be a bonus."
Connolly, who did not want to continue on after the World Cup, said he may still have an involvement with the Wallabies next year.
"John O'Neill has spoken to me about my involvement next year and we haven't taken it any further as yet," Connolly said.
"I do think it's time for someone else to move in and if there's a role in the background that's fine. If not then that's fine as well."
Crestfallen Wallabies' skipper Stirling Mortlock, preparing to return home after his side's shock 12-10 loss to England, said he supported the retention of the Australian coaching panel under Connolly.
"I feel disappointed that we didn't play well yesterday and didn't really show our true colours, but the coaching staff have done extremely well with this group of players," Mortlock said.
"I hope that most of those guys are still involved with the team moving forward."
- AFP
