Deans calls on his 'French spy'
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:56
Winning habit: Wallaby coach Robbie Deans
Australian coach Robbie Deans has admitted to having a 'spy' in France who have been passing on information to him about the opposition, ahead of the two countries' Test series.
The Wallabies and the French meet in the first of two Tests in Sydney on Saturday, with the return match in Brisbane a week later.
Deans, who on Tuesday named an unchanged squad for first Test, admitted that he does have some "inside" information on what is largely an unknown French side.
The Wallaby coach admitted he used his close contact with current Clermont Auvergne head coach, his former second-in-command at the Crusaders, Vern Cotter, to gauge the potential of the touring line-up.
Then there is also Deans's current assistant at the Wallabies, Jim Williams, who has hands on knowledge from his recent experience at Munster - where he coached against many of the tourists during the Irish club's run to the Heineken Cup Final last month.
This has also allowed the Wallabies to fully assess the level of the threat the visitors pose.
"There's no such thing as a poor French side," Deans warned, when quizzed about a touring team that features only seven 'Les Bleus' players from the Six Nations tournament earlier this year.
"When you put themselves in their shoes at the moment, there's only an upside. They have a great opportunity to wear their national jersey, represent their country proudly overseas, and achieve. That is a dangerous combination in any situation."
History also highlights the potential the French boast.
"You only have to look at World Cups – in matches both against Australia and New Zealand - to see that the French are at their best when they see themselves as the underdog," Deans said.
The Wallaby coach experienced French life and culture as a player, at Grenoble, during his career. That time has given him an appreciation for what makes the French player tick.
"The French are a very passionate and emotive people, and generally thrive in circumstances exactly like those they are presented with on this tour," Deans explained.
"If they feel that they are not being treated with proper respect by the news media and public; that can really stir them up emotionally and help them thrive. And their level of adventure and enthusiasm on the rugby field is such, generally anything is possible!
"They have won games when no one but the players in the group have believed that they could, and they will continue to do so going forward… just hopefully not this weekend! There are many examples already of the folly of not according France full respect. That's not a mistake our group intends to make."
Australia and France have met on 36 previous occasions, with the Wallabies holding a slender 18 wins to 16 advantage, while two further matches have been drawn.
In Australia, the tally stands 11 wins to four in Australia's favour, with one drawn.
Test matches in Sydney have fallen Australia's way by a ratio of six wins to three, with one drawn.
France's most recent win was a 28-19 success in the third Test of the 1990 series at the Sydney Football Stadium. Their previous success was a shock victory over the Wallabies in the 1987 Rugby World Cup semi-final at Concorde Oval.
