New Zealander Robbie Deans will be the first foreigner to coach the Wallabies after being appointed to the job for four years, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) announced yesterday.
The ARU said Deans, 48, the coach of the outstanding Canterbury Crusaders provincial team, has been appointed until the end of the 2011 season, which will take in the next World Cup in New Zealand.
Deans beat fellow candidates Ewen McKenzie, David Nucifora, Laurie Fisher, Alan Jones and John Muggleton for the Wallabies job after being afforded a late interview for the role.
PHOTO: AP
Having missing on the All Blacks' coaching job to Graham Henry last week, Deans went after the Wallabies' position earlier this week, a month after the official interviews had taken place.
Deans takes over from John Connolly, who stood down from the position after last October's World Cup.
"Robbie comes with a superb record and I am delighted to announce he will be next Wallaby coach," ARU chairman Peter McGrath said. "We see this as a new start for Australian rugby. In terms of our playing ranks, we are on the doorstep of generational change. We believe Robbie Deans is the man to move us into that new era."
"He has created history today by becoming the first non-Australian to coach the Wallabies," McGrath said. "We trust there are further historic achievements awaiting him and the Wallabies over the next four years on the road to the 2011 World Cup."
Deans is Super rugby's most successful coach, taking the Crusaders to the final six times in the past eight seasons including title wins in 2000, 2002, 2005 and last year.
His record with the Crusaders was 76 wins from 115 Super rugby matches and he is the only coach in Super rugby to have been in charge of a side for more than 100 games.
As a player, Deans holds the record for the most points for the Canterbury province (147 games, 1,641 points). He also played five Tests for New Zealand between 1983 and 1985.
The 48-year-old was an assistant coach to John Mitchell with the All Blacks between 2001 and 2003.
During that period, New Zealand won 22 Tests, drew one and lost four, while winning the Tri-Nations twice and recovering the Bledisloe Cup from the Wallabies after a five-year absence.
He was the New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year in 2002.
Ewen McKenzie, one of the beaten candidates, said Deans' outstanding record with the Crusaders made him a worthy choice as the new Wallaby head coach.
"I've got nothing but the greatest of respect for Robbie," said McKenzie, coach of the New South Wales Waratahs. "He's got a great Super rugby record and Australia can learn a lot from his New Zealand background."
Wallabies flanker Phil Waugh was among those to endorse the ARU's decision.
"It's very exciting for the players I think and a huge step forward," Waugh said. "I certainly don't have any problems with him being a New Zealander. I think in the last period of time the most consistent Test rugby has come out of New Zealand so I think it's exciting to have someone come across with that experience and a winning experience over the last few years."
Deans will hold a press conference today in Sydney, where he will reside after completing his Crusaders commitments in May.
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