With Robbie Deans' reign as Wallabies coach coming to an official end today, Patrick McKendry looks back on what has been an up and down tenure.
Highlights
Winning the Tri Nations in 2011
Australia wrapped up the final Tri Nations tournament (before it turned into the Rugby Championship) with a 25-20 victory over the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium, their first win at the venue against their arch rivals. It was the final test for both nations before the World Cup of that year and a timely reminder for the All Blacks that they had a fair bit of improving to do. Those were the days when Quade Cooper was in the fold and he ran the show with his good mate Will Genia. One of the other highlights for Aussie supporters was Radike Samo's barnstorming run for a try after fending off Adam Thomson.
Beating the world champion Boks
Deans enjoyed a fabulous start to his reign in 2008. His first test in charge was a 16-9 victory over South Africa in Perth, a win which had the Aussie scribes falling over themselves to praise him. "Time to Bok'n'roll'' was the headline in Sydney's Sun-Herald newspaper of the win over the world champions. Iain Payten wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: "In an intense battle that saw both sides exhausted at the final whistle, the Wallabies overcame a brutal Springboks defence in a magnificent performance.'' Deans enjoyed a good record over the Springboks, winning nine from 14 matches.
Victory over the All Blacks in 2008
If his first match in charge was impressive, his second was stunning. A week after the win in Perth the Wallabies beat Graham Henry's All Blacks 34-19 in Sydney. There was pressure on Deans to prove a point or two against Henry and he delivered. Matt Giteau converted all four of the Wallabies' tries and kicked a penalty and dropped goal for good measure. Giteau was ultimately unwanted by Deans and left to ply his trade in France. It wasn't the first time a talented player got offside with Deans and came off second best. For more see Quade Cooper.