Robbie Deans: International level would excite me most

Amidst the mountain of names mentioned yesterday as possible replacements for Matt O’Connor’s Leinster job, it was that of Robbie Deans that emerged on top with the New Zealander’s tumbling odds squaring with earlier smoke signals from sources.

Deans was sounded out for the Leinster role this time two years ago when the province went searching for a successor to Joe Schmidt who was moving up the chain to the Ireland job, but the timeline didn’t suit either party.

Though his five-year tenure as Wallaby coach was already in trouble, Deans was still in charge through to the completion of the Lions tour to Australia and, in the event, Leinster decided against waiting a number of months for a man who might or might not have become available.