News: The appointment of Robbie Deans as the first foreign-born coach to take charge of the Australian national rugby side yesterday finally capped a long coaching apprenticeship that began more than a decade ago.

Deans, surprisingly snubbed when Graham Henry was reappointed to the All Blacks coach's job, had to make a late run for the position and was interviewed more than a month after the other five candidates.

From North Canterbury farming stock, Deans made his debut for Canterbury as an outhalf in 1979 and after moving to fullback became a stalwart of the side throughout the 1980s.

He played 19 times for the All Blacks, including five tests.

After retiring in 1990 he coached Canterbury Country from 1992 to 1995 before he guided the Canterbury provincial side to New Zealand's national championship in 1997.

He was then appointed manager of the Canterbury Crusaders Super 12 side in 1998. Appointed head coach in 2000, he guided the Crusaders to the Super 12 title in his first year, and they repeated the success in 2002. They won the title again in 2005 and the first Super 14 title in 2006.

Deans also spent two years as assistant to All Blacks coach John Mitchell from 2001 to 2003 but was fired, along with Mitchell, following the 2003 World Cup semi-final loss to Australia.