All Blacks pull no surprises for Deans

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans isn't surprised by the All Blacks side named for
Saturday's Tri-Nations opener and fully anticipated they would opt for Stephen
Donald in the key five-eighth position.
The pivot spot was the main area of conjecture prior to Wednesday's team
announcement, with Luke McAlister also in contention.
But Chiefs playmaker Donald has recovered quicker than expected from a hamstring
strain suffered in last month's second Test against France and has pushed McAlister
to the bench.
"We fully anticipated that they'd opt for Stephen Donald if he was fit, simply
because of his background in that role," Deans told reporters on Wednesday.
McAlister, more recognised as an inside centre, was vying with Donald to fill the
void at No.10 caused by the absence of injured star Daniel Carter (ankle).
Asked if Donald's selection offered an indication of how New Zealand would play at
Eden Park, Deans replied: "No, not really.
"It's just more a reflection of the fact that he's more accustomed to playing 10,
where McAlister lacks that background," he said.
While Australia have two openside flankers on their bench backing up George Smith,
Deans wasn't surprised there was no specialist back-up to All Blacks' skipper Richie
McCaw, who returns from a knee injury with just 40 minutes of club football under
his belt since the Super 14 semi-finals.
"They've got a number of players that can cover that role.
"Rodney So'oialo they've used to that end previously, Kieran Read has done it
occasionally as well.
"They don't have specialist cover in that area, but they've obviously got players
they believe can do that job."
Deans may not have been surprised by the New Zealanders' team selections, but he did
appear taken aback by the media barrage on his return to his home country for a
second year in charge of the Australian side.
Told by a Kiwi reporter All Blacks assistant Steve Hansen had suggested Deans was
now an Australian, the former Crusaders boss replied: "That's Steve's opinion,
that's fine.
"But I'm clearly in the opposition and really excited about this Test match," Deans
said.
Pressed on how he felt to come home to such an "accusation", he said: "Accusation? I
don't think about it to be honest."
Deans also faced his first question from a Kiwi reporter on the Lote Tuqiri contract
termination, but had obviously reached saturation point on that issue in Australia.
"There's no point in even discussing that stuff," he dead-batted back.
Deans expects the buzz to build in Auckland as his undefeated 2009 Wallabies aim to
win there first match in the city in 23 years.
"I've got no doubt there'll be a lot of talk around town which is great," he said.
"I certainly hope that that's the case, it will be good for the game if it is.
" ... (Eden Park is) the bastion for the All Blacks and they obviously approach
their work that way.
"The All Blacks are very conscious of their history, they are very conscious of
their successful history."