Deans has eye on club ranks for tour

Rupert Guinness | September 12, 2009

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans is so determined to ensure he has the maximum depth of talent for the 2011 World Cup that he will consider plucking rookie players from club rugby for the end-of-season tour.

This weekend, Deans will watch all of the finals of the Sydney and Brisbane club competitions, whether in person or on video. He plans to attend today's Shute Shield elimination final between Gordon and Warringah at Pittwater Park, and tomorrow's knock-out between Manly and Eastwood at Forshaw Park.

He will continue to monitor club games before naming his Wallabies train-on squad of ''about 40'' on September 28 - the day after the Shute Shield final. The squad will convene on October 5 for a four-day camp, and a touring party of 34 or 35 players will be named four days later.

Deans has a track record of blooding raw talent. In 2003 when he was assistant coach of the All Blacks under head coach John Mitchell, seven new faces joined the squad including Dan Carter, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Josevata Rokocoko and Brad Thorn. And in 2002, they introduced 16 players into the New Zealand side of which 13 went on the end-of-season tour, including Rodney So'oialo, Keven Mealamu, Daniel Braid and Ali Williams.

Deans, a vehement defender of club rugby, believes that the next few weeks represent a massive opportunity for previously omitted players to break in to the Wallabies squad. ''There will be people who haven't been with us in the last two years,'' he said of the grand slam tour.

He said the players who fit into that frame are those who would also be playing for possible contracts in the fifth Australian Super side to be based in Melbourne and start in 2011 - assuming Australia gets the extra side in an expanded Super 15 series.

''There are some very good players out there. Hopefully, you will see that with the next [Super 15] franchise,'' Deans said. ''I think there is a generation of players who may not be as talented, but have been through the school of have-nots and are more mature physically and possibly mentally.''

Deans is convinced some club players have slipped through the system in Australia, whereas he feels some who have been contracted by their states or the ARU have become complacent.

''We have to make sure our selection processes are genuinely transparent and merit-based,'' he said. ''Historically, we have tended to capture and contract players, and they have a sense of certainty and security far beyond their reality. And you get other blokes at club level and who possibly have as much, but don't have - or haven't had - the avenue to line up against the protected species or the talented next generation.''


Deans would not name names, but hinted at having a list in his mind by referring to an Australian Barbarians side that played an Academy side early this year.

''I think you will see that in the next wee while,'' he said. ''You have a fifth franchise coming on. The reality is that every franchise is going to be scrapping right now for those players. There is a great opportunity for players in club land - presuming we get the franchise.

''There's going to be great scope. We saw the Australian Barbarians of club players beat pretty convincingly the Academy side. There's your answer.''

Deans believes club rugby in Australia still has a way to go to emulate the development pathway players in New Zealand and South Africa enjoy in the respective National Provincial Championship and Currie Cup, but he is confident the gap is closing.

He believes Australia's competitive football market means players have been contracted prematurely just to keep them in the game. ''It is a far more competitive environment [in Australia than New Zealand],'' he said. ''There is a conscious effort to secure players - as a consequence, sometimes players are contracted before they are ready.''

http://twf.com.au/picture.php?albumid=40&pictureid=587
Check out the lift on George Smith... now thats something he's not use to..

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...35.html?page=2

Deans undoubtedly has an fine eye for talent... I’m looking forward to seeing whom he selects from the national comps come the end of September....I can think of a few already

"Deans has a track record of blooding raw talent. In 2003 when he was assistant coach of the All Blacks under head coach John Mitchell, seven new faces joined the squad including Dan Carter, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Josevata Rokocoko and Brad Thorn. And in 2002, they introduced 16 players into the New Zealand side of which 13 went on the end-of-season tour, including Rodney So'oialo, Keven Mealamu, Daniel Braid and Ali Williams."

Interesting that Mitchell is a bastard in NZ for who he cut, but Deans gets kudos for who he introduced.

Great to hear though and there is no doubting Robbie's belief/support of the grass roots. Hopefully he has his good mate watching the WA scene for him.
I have no doubt that great players have come and gone in WA and the other states without being picked up due to circumstance, injury or other unfortunate timing.