KEY POINTS:
Robbie Deans asked former New Zealand test batsman John Wright about coaching an international side against his own nation.
The response: "He said it's fantastic because it's like playing against your own brother in the backyard. It's the one you really want to win," Deans said.
"He's a
pretty shrewd sort of character. I've picked up a lot from him over the years," said Deans of Wright.
Deans himself is pretty shrewd and his relaxed introduction to the media at the plush North Sydney offices of the Australian Rugby Union won him many friends.
But from the pleas, demands and plain "you'd better" retorts, it is clear that the Australian media's expectations of Deans are daunting. Especially given he's leapt over the likes of David Nucifora, Ewen McKenzie, Alan Jones and Laurie Fisher for the job.
He's the first non-Australian to take the role but why wouldn't you appoint someone with a Super rugby record of four titles and two final spots in eight years?
The likes of 1999 World Cup-winning skipper John Eales and 1991 World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer are behind Deans but it's understood more vehement and influential naysayers will also now back him.
Former Wallaby and rugby journalist Peter Fitzsimons is one such figure who finds the experience "humiliating" but says he's just happy "it's not Alan Jones". He says former captain Nick Farr-Jones will also tender his support, seeing it's "not a Pom".
Meanwhile, some with a passion for Canterbury rugby have found Deans' new calling encroaching on their support for the All Blacks - and they are starting to have doubts over who to back in this year's Bledisloe Cup, let alone when Deans takes his team to Christchurch, a fixture likely for 2009.
Dick Tayler, the former Commonwealth Games 10,000m gold medallist, is president of the Canterbury Rugby Supporters' Club. He says it's a tough question.
"I was in the mall at Hornby trying on a Wallabies jersey today. I've had a number of calls from members going on our Cup trip next year asking about suitable attire. The ARU should be patted on the back for its approach to getting Robbie back coaching at international level. We're even learning the Australian national anthem."
Deans is too. He confirmed he's been sent the Advance Australia Fair lyrics in the last couple of days but says we can rest assured he's been appointed for his coaching, not his singing.
He says he also consulted a number of people before deciding to accept the role, including Wright, who went on to success as Indian cricket's first foreign coach.
The late former Wallabies coach Bob Templeton also played his part in the decision, albeit in the early 1980s.
"He was the first bloke to really prick my interest in coaching. It comes from an incident in one of my early games for Canterbury when we were up against Queensland. Prop Stan Pilecki 'caught up with me' in the game and I received delayed concussion.
"Templeton came and visited me after the match and I never forgot it. It's one of the first times I realised what an impact you can have on the people around you in such a role."
