Deans silenced detractors
Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:02
Former Waratahs and now Stade Francais coach Ewen McKenzie says Robbie Deans has silenced his critics by galvanising the Wallabies team this year.
Ironically, it was McKenzie who lost out to Deans on the Wallabies coaching job earlier this year but he says the New Zealander has proven himself a revelation.
McKenzie has been particularly impressed by Deans' ability to motivate the Wallabies into a tight bunch of utterly professional players with a common goal of wanting to succeed.
"I think definitely the cultural area of the team, he's made an investment there which I don't think has been made prior - or not often," McKenzie told AAP.
"He's actually given that some importance. That's something that I understand because it's something I took on at the Waratahs as well.
"Making an investment there is like making an investment in your passing skills.
"So he's aligned the team. They know what's expected.
"They point in the same direction. There's been no issues off the field - not that I know of anyway.
McKenzie says Deans' introduction of 13 newcomers to the Wallabies has also been a breath of fresh air for Australian rugby and Deans had pulled mostly the right reins in his first season as Wallabies coach.
"It has been a very clean season. It doesn't mean it can't happen, but it has been a very clean run in that respect." McKenzie said.
"I don't think he would say he's made no mistakes.
"But I doubt he's made the same mistake twice."
