Deans sees the signs for Wallabies
As the Wallabies stood arm in arm to watch youngster James O'Connor boot them to victory over the All Blacks for the first time in more than two years, relieved coach Robbie Deans saw the signs of something good.
Less than 12 months out from the next Rugby World Cup, his plans were beginning to bear fruit with the drought-breaking 26-24 win at Hong Kong Stadium.
An Australian side which had so often put in a poor final quarter in 2010 had come back from 24-12 down against the world's best, whom they hadn't beaten in 10 straight Tests matches.
They'd backed up the progress made by busting a hoodoo at altitude in South Africa and a decent showing against NZ in Sydney.
"The step that we took, particularly in the last 20 (minutes), was evidence of not only the progression that we've witnessed but also in (the players') realisation that they've progressed," Deans said.
"Putting a stake in the ground and saying, 'Enough, we can do this'. And they got it done."
Deans said his men were learning how to respond to periods of poor play rather than give in to them.
"That's the biggest step that they've taken, that they haven't let those moments impact on their thought processes, they've kept going," he said.
"The reality is, if your mindset's right you can overcome those moments."
The fact young guns like O'Connor and Kurtley Beale are at the centre of Australia's recent pressure-cooker victories is another good sign.
Even the body language, on display as they linked arms and in five-eighth Quade Cooper's running battle with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, left the Wallabies coach quietly pleased.
"It's a sign of the fact they're respecting what they're doing and respecting the opportunity they got."
Deans is cautious, though, about trumpeting the Wallabies as a side now capable of beating anyone as they head towards the 2011 tournament in NZ.
"You've got to do the things that you did (against the All Blacks) to put yourself in that position in every instance," he said.
"While it's true it's added a deposit to their belief, if they presume anything to that end, then it will be counter-productive."
Meanwhile, the All Blacks' dream of a world record 18 straight Test victories was ended at 15 and coach Graham Henry admitted an opportunity had been lost to keep the Australians doubting themselves.
"We always want to keep the foot on the throat and we haven't done that," he said.
"(But) I don't think it's going to reflect what's going to happen next year (at the World Cup)."
Five-eighth Dan Carter sounded an ominous warning that the loss represented more of a hiccup than a turning point for the world No.1 team.
"You never want to lose, we're pretty gutted," he said.
"But from my experience you learn a lot more from losses and we will bounce back, I'm confident of that."
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