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Fisher slams Deans`s selection plan

Thursday 24th January 2008

Laurie Fisher won't back Robbie Deans's selection proposal

Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher has said that he will not co-operate with new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans's proposed plan to use the Australian Super 14 coaches as national squad selectors.

While the other three Super 14 coaches were willing to entertain the possibility of acting as selectors for Deans, Fisher stated that he would not be giving Deans insight into his players before the New Zealander had finished his duties in the Super 14 competition.

"Until he has finished with the Crusaders, he is the opposition," Fisher told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"I certainly won't be discussing the relative strengths and weaknesses of my players until he has finished up with the Crusaders in the Super 14. You are talking about two sides here who could be in the Super 14 Final."

Deans, who is contracted to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) as the Crusaders coach until the end of the Super 14 season, said on Tuesday that his proposal would give the provinces a fair and influential say in the make-up of the Wallabies squad.

By appointing Fisher, Ewen McKenzie (Waratahs), John Mitchell (Western Force) and Phil Mooney (Reds) as squad selectors, Deans could open the lines of communication between the Super 14 coaches and himself during the competition without breaching his NZRU contract.

Fisher, whose Brumbies finished fifth last year and have yet to reach the play-offs since he took over in 2005, also took issue with the proposal's feasibility - asking if each Super 14 coach's squad selection would be granted.

"I would like to think there would be an open discussion [after Super 14]. But I don't know ... who makes the final [squad] decision? Do I just say, 'Pick my 22?' We could have an 88-man squad," he said.

Meanwhile McKenzie, Mitchell and Mooney, although more supportive of Deans's bid to include the provinces - who have often been divided in the past over Wallabies selections - also have questions.

All three agree that the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) must outline, as soon as possible, exactly what process would be adopted during Super 14 and inform them of their expectations as they are not employed by the union.

"The idea of involving the state coaches ... it is a good thing to get them involved. But the devil will be in the detail," McKenzie said.

"I don't understand the detail and I not sure really how that will work over the next six months. It hasn't been outlined to us. I am sure someone will tell us that will work in next period of time."

Mitchell, who employed Deans as his assistant during his tenure as All Blacks coach, also welcomed the proposal.

"It will be terrific to have open dialogue with the head coach of the Wallabies and understand his process on selection," Mitchell said.

"But assuming he will have some kind of formula and our considerations will be weighted, I would have thought bearing in mind, [that] he makes the final decision.

"However, like everything at this level, consistent performance [on the field] will enhance and present any Australian player an opportunity regardless of the process."

Former Australia Under-19 coach Mooney, who is in his first season coaching a Super 14 side, while supportive of the proposal, said that he did not believe that the Australian teams would risk compromising their Super 14 campaigns by offering Deans insights into their players during the competition.

"It is terrific to know the national coach wants to have open discussions between the states and him," he said. "It is an efficient way of using the resources we have got in Australia.

"I am sure Robbie has a fair idea of the strengths and weaknesses of [Australian] players he is going up against [in Super 14] already," Mooney said.

"Maybe our role will be more about putting in some of the pieces of the [selection] puzzle, giving views on players' personalities and more what they are like off-field."