Crusaders fans back Ewen

2008-05-28 09:17

Christchurch - If Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie applies for the Crusaders' coaching job set to become vacant after the Super 14 final on Saturday, he will have full backing of their influential supporters' club.

The AMI Stadium final in Christchurch is the final game for McKenzie and Robbie Deans with their current teams. McKenzie has not had his contract renewed and Deans's tenure as Wallabies coach starts next week.

By the time Deans presents his first 30-man Wallabies squad in Sydney on Monday, it is expected the Canterbury Rugby Football Union will have advertised for his replacement as head coach.

There are strong indications the six-time Super champions are willing to look beyond Canterbury, rather than pick one of their own. And there is no better way for McKenzie to show his talent before formally applying - if he is interested in the position - than by coaching the Waratahs to victory on Saturday night.

McKenzie's case has been strengthened by the backing of the Canterbury supporters' club. Its president, Dick Tayler - himself a sporting icon, whose word has carried weight locally since he won gold in the 10 000m at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch - confirmed yesterday that McKenzie's candidacy would be welcomed.

The 700-strong fan club does not have a formal say in any appointment, but its collective voice is extremely influential as the Crusaders rely heavily on maintaining a strong and close-knit relationship with it.

'Good assistant coaches' "Someone like [McKenzie] would get full backing - no hesitation," Tayler said. "He has developed a team with flair. That is what Robbie Deans is about. "Look what he has done with the Waratahs. They have gone from strength to strength.

"We have a lot of good assistant coaches. But my feeling is that we haven't got enough experienced coaches to lead the Crusaders."

Deans's loyal band of supporters are still bracing themselves for his departure and last week held three official farewell functions for him - the first of which was organised by Tayler at the Hornby Working Men's Club.

Attended by 550 and doubling as a fundraiser for the Glenmark Rugby Club, where Deans first played, it was clear that losing him to Australia after his controversial failure to get the All Blacks job still hurt the locals.

Most Cantabrians are incensed at New Zealand's failure in last year's World Cup and Graham Henry's subsequent re-appointment for another term. Even former All Blacks coach Alex "Grizz" Wylie couldn't resist a dig, telling the crowd: "It's like a bloody funeral in here. Well, maybe it is. It is sad to see Robbie go, but at least we know he is going to a better place."

There were many anecdotes recalled, such as Deans's 1983 All Blacks Test debut against Scotland in Edinburgh, when he realised his boots were still in his hotel room as the side were about to leave. When he came back down, the team bus had already left for the stadium, so he hailed a taxi and went on his own.

As the taxi weaved its way through the traffic near the ground, he saw the team bus heading back to the hotel to collect him. But in the pre-mobile phone era, he had no way of stopping them. The All Blacks ran on as 15 after Deans, who arrived alone, convinced security he was one of them.

- Rugby Heaven