Robbie's last stand?

For the first time since 1962, the All Blacks beat the Wallabies to nil last night. Both sides improved significantly from Sydney, but if anything the 22-nil scoreline flattered the Wallabies. David Long from Stuff sums the match up in three paragraphs:

So much for a World Cup hangover, so much for second test syndrome, so much for trans-Tasman rivalry, so good are the All Blacks.

The 22-0 win over Australia at Eden Park was yet another emphatic win for Steve Hansen and his men and one that will leave the Springboks, Pumas and the rest of the rugby playing world shaking with fear.

This was the first time since 1962 that Australia had failed to score a point against the All Blacks in a test, the score that day at Carisbrook was 3-0. 

Australia didn't even look like scoring last night. The All Blacks' discipline was much improved from Sydney, and Berrick Barnes didn't have a single shot at goal during the match.

And late in the match, the TV cameras turned to the respective coaching boxes. Robbie Deans had the look of a condemned man. Perhaps the camera angle and the shot through a glass window was unflattering, but he almost looked ill with stress.  And who would be surprised with that?

Australia loves a winner. But over at the Sydney Morning Herald, rugby correspondent Greg Growden outlines Deans' dilemma:

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans admitted he expected the ''wolves to be at his door'' after suffering yet another humiliating loss to the All Blacks last night.

Deans, somewhat croaky after experiencing his 14th loss in 17 encounters with the All Blacks, said he was not thinking about his future.

When asked if he felt safe in his job, Deans replied: ''It's not about me. It's about the team and what we do. We are at the front end of the Rugby Championship, and we now reset our sights on South Africa and Argentina. It [his future] is the last thing on my mind at the moment. It's about the team. We have to now pick it up and carry on.''

Later in the media conference, a clearly dejected Deans was asked if there ''would be now more wolves at your door in Australia?'' and that he would be subjected to more criticism and scrutiny - especially with the Bledisloe Cup gone for another season. ''No doubt,'' he said. ''We're not the No.1 side in the world, and it's pretty evident who is.''

The next few days will be tough on Robbie Deans, but the pressure is mounting, and he knows it. He may survive the Rugby Championship, but we suspect that Deans' tenure as Wallaby coach is nearing an end.