Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans doesn’t want to ‘go back’ to guiding the Wallabies

A former Wallabies coach says the national team can recover from Eddie Jones’ disastrous second spell in charge which has left the sport in ruin.

Robbie Deans won’t coach the Wallabies again. Picture: Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Barbarians

As he emphatically ruled himself out of taking charge of the Wallabies for a second time former coach Robbie Deans said it’s a “good thing” Eddie Jones has moved on and said the players would be the best drivers of change.

Jones’ disastrous second stint as Wallabies coach. which included Australia’s failure to reach the knockout stages of the recent rugby World Cup, has come to end, with the veteran mentor having quit this week less than 10 months into a five-year contract.

Former All Black Deans, who coached Australia in 75 Tests between 2008 and 2013, had been among those who were suggested as a successor to Jones in recent weeks.

However, 64-year-old Deans, who coaches Japanese club team Saitama Wild Knights, has no interest in coaching the Wallabies again.

“You don’t go back – it’s never good to go back,” Deans said on Wednesday in Brisbane, where the Wild Knights will meet the Queensland Reds in a trial on Saturday.

“You’ve got what you need here. You’ll solve it. You’ve got a lot of passionate rugby people.

“Just tap into those that care, and you’ll find a way through.

“It’s never as bad as people suggest, it’s never as good as people suggest. You’ve got a lot of players who want to be part of it, and that’s what you feed off.

“Don’t worry about the past. Don’t dwell on it. Just keep moving, and keep catering for players needs. and they’ll solve it for you.”

Eddie Jones’ disastrous second spell as Wallabies coach is over. Picture: SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

Deans said he would not “pass Judgement” on RA’s decision to give Jones a second spell in charge of the Wallabies after his first stint from 2001 to 2005.

“It’s obviously a chapter that’s closed, which is probably a good thing,” he said.

“Elvis has left the building.”

Deans was also reluctant to discuss whether Japan should appoint Jones for a second time – as many suspect will happen.

“They’ll do what they want to do. I shan’t waste any time on it.” he said.

Deans also said he “hadn’t spent any time” on assessing whether former Reds coach Brad Thorn – who he coached at Super Rugby level – should be considered for the Wallabies coaching job.

“He’s a great man,” Deans said of the former All Blacks lock.

“He’s left a group of players for (new Reds coach Les Kiss) to pick up.

“Bar a very average refereeing decision, they would have knocked the Chiefs out (of last season’s Super Rugby Pacific finals series).

“That’s the game. They were that close, so you’ve got a group of hungry men who will be ready to push on. They know that they are capable of it.”