1 Sep 2008

Deans honeymoon period over

6:44 pm on 1 September 2008

Robbie Deans' honeymoon period with Australia rugby is well and truly over after overseeing the Wallabies' worst ever test loss.

The former Australian test player Mark Ella fears even worse could lie in store for the Wallabies at the hands of the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations decider in Brisbane next week unless major adjustments are made.

Thumped 53-8 by South Africa in Johannesburg, Ella says in his column in the Australian newspaper that Deans no doubt finds himself in a new situation, having to go back to the drawing boards with the Wallabies lineout and scrum struggling against the Sprinboks.

Ella says if Australia's set piece performs like that in Brisbane the All Blacks could reach triple figures.