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Hard work starts now for Deans

Monday 04th August 2008

Pressure: Deans has tasted defeat for the first time with the Wallabies

Australia's first Test defeat under Kiwi Robbie Deans will test the nation's affection for their first foreign coach according to Nick Farr-Jones.

Farr-Jones, a former Wallaby captain himself, believes the Wallabies will now struggle to break an eight-year drought in South Africa as their Tri-Nations credentials come under pressure later this month.

Far from being unhappy with what Deans has done for the Wallabies thus far Farr-Jones now thinks the commotion around Deans will subside as reality begins to kick in.

"When he first came over we were just happy it was a Kiwi coming to our shores with a fully paid job," Farr-Jones joked on New Zealand television.

"But all of a sudden, after five victories on the trot, including beating the world champion South Africans and the mighty All Blacks, he was about to become prime minister.

"If we had won again, had we been a republic, he would have become president.

"He will be a bit shell-shocked after the loss. To come to his home country as the hailed coach who has done so much for our Wallabies you know 39 points, he'll wake up thinking 'was I dreaming that?'

"All of a sudden he won't be quite the blue-eyed boy."

Australia now face two away games in South Africa knowing they must win at least one of them to stand a chance of claiming the Tri-Nations title.

Having coughed up 27 turnovers against New Zealand the Wallabies will be looking to tighten their game before they take on South Africa in back-to-back Tests.

Another former Test legend, All Black Grant Fox, was an unlikely ally for Deans and Australia.

"There are some really good rugby players in that side, some big-game players and some experienced players," Fox said on New Zealand radio.

"They have a very good footy coach. Robbie will be hurting. The honeymoon is over and now the hard work begins.

"The Australians are a smart and intelligent rugby side and you would expect them to bounce back."