Robbie Deans still wants to coach the All Blacks and would have no problem working under Steve Tew.
Deans, now living in Japan where he is in charge of the Panasonic Wild Knights, has not worked in New Zealand since being appointed Wallabies head coach in 2008, but believes his five-year stint with the All Blacks' arch-rivals is no reason for a grudge to be held against him.
Deans, who is spruiking the release of the autobiography Robbie Deans: Red, Black and Gold, reckons the Wallabies job broadened his coaching knowledge and those experiences would prove invaluable if in charge of the All Blacks.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has not indicated if he wants to continue after next year's World Cup but after 12 years with the team – eight as an assistant and four as the boss – he may want to stand down regardless of whether they defend the Webb Ellis Cup.
Deans, who assisted John Mitchell with the All Blacks between late 2001-2003, will give serious consideration to joining the race for the top job if that happens.
"There is no doubt I am better as a coach, and a person, and that stint I had with the Wallabies was fantastic," Deans, 55, said. "There is nothing like experience – it is like training and playing. I thought my apprenticeship was pretty well complete prior to taking on the Wallabies and every experience adds value, not only in knowledge but with your skill set, too."
Like Hansen and his predecessor Graham Henry, who were both in charge of Wales before returning to New Zealand, Deans believes working for another nation should not be a black mark against his name. "They came back better for it," he said.
This brings us to the elephant in the room: whether Deans could work under New Zealand Rugby chief executive Tew.
"Absolutely," Deans said. "I have done it before – definitely I could."
Deans worked under Tew when he was chief executive of the Crusaders and Canterbury until 2001.
Their relationship was frosty even before Deans, who missed out on the All Blacks position when Henry was reappointed after the 2007 World Cup, aligned himself with the Wallabies after nine years coaching the Crusaders.
Although Deans and Tew were both pall bearers at former NZ Rugby chairman and All Blacks captain Jock Hobbs' funeral in 2012, they rarely contact each other.
"No, not a lot," Deans said. "But we have crossed paths at venues from year to year and it is probably fair to say it has been awkward.
"But I don't see that has being an issue, to be honest. There are processes to follow and so forth. All I am saying is that I still have a love for the game and am passionate about coaching."
Hansen, meanwhile, has retained a close relationship with Tew. It stretches back to their days at Canterbury and the Crusaders. Tew attended Hansen's wedding last summer.
Coaching a Super Rugby team holds less appeal for Deans: "I have probably had a fair stint there when you include management as well. It is probably more the international level that would excite me more."
Deans, whose contract was terminated by the ARU last year, also confirmed he would support the All Blacks at next year's World Cup.
"I do have friends on the other side of the Tasman and I care about them and I will continue to derive enjoyment as they push on," he said.
"But at the end of the day, I have no responsibilities to either party and that allows my natural instinct to step back in. I am a Kiwi and that has never changed."
