Deans faces media with straight bat
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:46
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has been rock steady in his dealings with the media this week, not faltering once ahead of his first Test against the All Blacks.
And he did not waver on Friday, as the headline writers became desperate in their bid to goad Deans into an anti-Graham Henry rant.
In fact they all got pretty desperate at the final media conference in Sydney on Friday ahead of the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup showdown between the Wallabies and All Blacks on Saturday.
"You've been very diplomatic in what you've said about Graham Henry, can you say something that's not diplomatic," a Australian television reporter pleaded.
The Deans grin, which has been on regular show in Sydney this week, emerged again as the packed press conference erupted.
"I'm perfectly capable of that, but I'm telling you the way it is. I'm telling you that it's not about me. That's a fact, that's a reality. So I'm not going to tell you a lie," Deans offered.
At his final sermon before the biggest match of his coaching career, and first against his formerly beloved All Blacks, Deans was relaxed and cracked jokes, but insisted it was about "we, not me".
He admitted he didn't know how he'd react in the moments before kickoff on Saturday, before 80,000 people at ANZ Stadium, when the Wallabies sing Advance Australia Fair.
"It'll be a great occasion. I'll feel emotion, there's no doubt. But everyone who's here will do that and probably even those watching on TV," he said.
"Hopefully the occasion will be such that there is an electricity in the air. That's fantastic."
Deans was glad to be informed his coaching adversary and All Blacks assistant Steve Hansen had said "he's not the emotionless fish people think he is".
But there still wasn't that crucial sound byte.
One final attempt got about as much as could be expected, but no mention of Henry, when he was asked if he was "burning for it" to beat the man who was preferred as All Blacks coach.
"Absolutely, it's no different from any other side to that end.
"In the city the other day and I can't recall who it was, someone hammered away with the same question until they got the answer that they wanted, because I essentially relented. Is this the biggest game? Well, it's the only game because it's Saturday.
"That's the nature of this game, you thrive or survive week to week and hopefully you're excited about the next game, because if you're not you're in the wrong industry.
"I'm excited about it, but it's not about me, it's about the group and I genuinely hope they have a great experience. And I will feel that, yes."
With thanks to NZPA
