Eddie has no right to question Robbie

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Eddie Jones' questioning of Robbie Deans' passion for the Australian job reeks of double standards from a coach who has plied his trade all around the world with as much pause for thought as a lady of the night.

Jones has come out swinging as Deans enters the race to take charge of the Australian side.

"... Does Robbie really want to coach Australia?" asked Jones.

"You've got to have someone who wants to coach Australia, not coach Australia because he missed out on another job."

This comes from a man who lost the Wallabies job and then jumped into bed with the Springboks to help them win the World Cup.

This from a coach who guided the Brumbies and Queensland in Australia without blinking at interstate loyalties.

This from a man who has regularly taken short term club assignments in Japan as well as England.

This from a man who when he was attacked for taking up the Springboks assistant coaching position, hit back at his Australian critics by going down the line of rugby now being a professional sport that breaks down the patriotic boundaries.

And that is at the essence of an argument that will rage all week until the Australian Rugby Union make their decision.

The boundaries are being increasingly broken down. It's something New Zealand, with our over-supply of quality coaches, have had to live with for quite a while now.

Think of Warren Gatland with Ireland and now Wales, think of John Mitchell's time as an assistant with England, look at John Kirwan with Italy and Japan,  Brad Johnstone with Italy and Fiji, Wayne Pivac with Fiji, Todd Blackadder and Pat Lam in assistant roles with Scotland.

This is nothing new other than the fact that none of the before mentioned sides ever threaten the All Blacks like the Wallabies do.

New Zealand have more right to be wary of Deans' impending move across the Tasman because he has the ability to transform the Wallabies into a world class side again after  their surprising slide under the latter stages of Jones' time in charge and John Connolly's short reign.

No one should question Deans' loyalties to any job. He hasn't been one to throw his hat into the ring of any vacancy going around. He's got a background of eight consecutive years with the Crusaders and a couple of seasons working with the All Blacks as an assistant in the middle of that stint.

Deans has been frank and open with the Wallabies throughout this whole process. Despite overtures from John O'Neill, he told the Australians that the All Blacks were his first choice, not surprising since he is a Kiwi. But he also told them that he wouldn't shut the door on a move to Sydney.

And so it has panned out.

This will be hard for Australians to take because they are a proud sporting nation who look down their noses at their Kiwi counterparts.

But the Aussies should realise they are only talking rugby here. It isn't top of the pops across the ditch. The day a New Zealander is invited to take charge of the Australian cricket team or rugby league team is a day when even we will understand people questioning priorities.

Right now it's hard to see any Australian rugby coach worthy of lacing Robbie Deans' boots, he's that far ahead of his rivals over there.

The Aussies should feel privileged to be getting a gift-wrapped Christmas present like this.

Deans is a true professional and you can be sure he will put his heart, soul and brain into any job he takes on.

Robbie Deans taking over the Wallabies would be New Zealand's loss and Australia's gain.

- © Fairfax NZ News