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Mitchell unlikely to join Deans
Stuff.co.nz | Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Mitchell unlikely to join Deans - Rugby news & coverage - Stuff.co.nz
Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell does not seem to be on Robbie Deans list to join his coaching staff in Australia.
While Deans is enlisting the help of Australia's Super 14 coaches, including Mitchell, to help select the Wallabies squad this year, comments on his backroom staff indicate his old boss won't be one of them.
"As I have said, one Kiwi will be adequate," Deans told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Deans has privately settled on the names of his assistant coaches, and confirmed that not all the incumbents will keep their jobs.
Asked if he had the names of his assistants in his mind, Deans said: "Yeah … but there is nothing concluded. And obviously there are incumbents, so there are processes that have to be followed. But Pat Howard [ARU high-performance director] is driving that."
Deans said it was "great" that Wallabies forwards coach Michael Foley had publicly declared a wish to keep the job he took up in 2006 for last year's World Cup campaign.
"It's clear he is keen to continue. But who knows? They may all be keen to," Deans said, referring to Wallabies assistants Scott Johnson [backs] and John Muggleton [defence].
"But the reality of the circumstances is that that opportunity won't be there for all [of them].
"I envisage the [ARU] will be keen to announce it in one hit. I am also going to pick up some roles."