KEY POINTS:
Robbie Deans could be the Wallaby coach by Friday.
The Crusaders supremo, unwanted by the New Zealand Rugby Union, has officially entered the race for the Australian job.
He will be interviewed by an Australian Rugby Union selection panel, possibly tomorrow, and the successful applicant is expected to
be announced either on Thursday night or Friday at the end of an ARU board meeting.
Five other candidates were interviewed several weeks ago.
They included former Wallaby coach and radio broadcaster Alan Jones, Wallaby support coach John Muggleton, and Super 14 trio Ewen McKenzie (Waratahs), David Nucifora (Blues) and Laurie Fisher (Brumbies).
But, with the ARU having changed their policy this year to allow for a non-Australian coach - and having reopened the door once Deans was overlooked by the New Zealand Rugby Union - the former All Black fullback will be frontrunner for the position to replace John Connolly, especially given his outstanding Super rugby record of four titles, two finals and a semifinal in eight years.
"I've indicated all along I was keen to do international rugby again, and they [the ARU] were respectful enough not to push the envelope," he told the Herald last night.
ARU chief executive John O'Neill has been laid up with a neck injury, delaying the selection process. Deans admitted that may be his good fortune as the position might otherwise have already been filled.
"These guys remained keen to involve me.
"It was my wish to have a crack locally first, but now that door's closed and [the Australian job] was a natural progression," Deans said.
He said it had long been his intention to coach overseas.
"To me, it was always inevitable. The thought processes had been pretty clear round that. I don't want to stay on here [the Crusaders] indefinitely. While I enjoy it, we have good people coming through here. I don't want to stand in their way and I'm ready for a new challenge."
Deans, 48, liked the fact that the ARU made contact and wanted him to apply.
"That's great, and I know these blokes very well.
"I've worked with and against them for over a decade - with them via Sanzar and against them through Super rugby. I know a lot of their administrators and players."
ARU deputy chief executive Matt Carroll had a straightforward response to any rumblings which might follow a non-Australian getting the top job.
"We want the best available coach we can get for the Wallabies," he told the Herald last night.
Carroll confirmed a conversation between Deans and ARU high performance manager, and former Wallaby, Pat Howard, sealed the late addition to the list of candidates.
"It's just a maturing of rugby as a professional sport," he said.
"Professional sport tends to be a tad ruthless. You have to have results; you've got to have the best."
He cited Australia's soccer federation hiring top Dutch coach Guus Hiddink ahead of the 2006 World Cup as another example of pursuing the best people irrespective of what passport they hold.
Wallaby fullback Chris Latham nailed his colours to Deans' mast yesterday.
"Every Wallaby wants the best man for the job, and that man is Robbie Deans," he said.
Deans got "an indicator" that he wouldn't be getting the All Black job when he showed up for his interview and found three unexpected faces in the room - outgoing NZRU chief executive Chris Moller, his No 2 Steve Tew and All Black manager Darren Shand.
"You pick up on cues and messages and second guesses, but essentially you live in hope," Deans said.
"When it came to me, you don't know what they're going to say, but obviously the moment you get the message [that he had missed out] realities kick in." On coaching the All Blacks at some point in the future, Deans said he "wouldn't rule it out".
"But it doesn't really matter what I harbour. It's probably more what other people harbour.
"Personnel changes, but it's pretty evident that prior to 2011 [when the next World Cup is staged in New Zealand] with the existing management that opportunity won't present itself."
Henry has the job until at least 2009.
Deans is emphatic it will not be a contestable process for the final two years leading up to the cup, whatever the NZRU might say.
"And if it was I don't think it would make a lot of difference anyway."
So Deans is turning his sights, and coaching gifts, elsewhere. "Essentially that's that chapter closed," he said.
"You contemplate both outcomes and hope for the best, but all it is is a piece of clarity and a moment in time.
"It's not the end, it simply means that alleyway is closed, so you keep looking for another."
