8 Oct 2012

Spring tour crucial for Deans

12:21 pm on 8 October 2012

Australian rugby coach Robbie Deans says the Wallabies will benefit from the adversity of their rocky Rugby Championship campaign.

But it remains to be seen whether Deans will be around to reap those benefits in 2013.

Injury-ravaged Australia's scrappy yet highly-admirable 25-19 win over Argentina in Rosario guarantees Deans will stay in control as coach for the last five Tests of this year.

After a third Bledisloe Test against a full-strength All Blacks side aiming to equal their record winning streak of 17 on October 20, he will then take the Wallabies to Europe for a four-match spring tour.

The results and their play - against France, England Italy and Wales - will then determine whether he can fight another day and lead Australia against the British and Irish Lions next year.

A 3-1 return should keep him safe while a failed 1-3 campaign is unlikely to be tolerated. The last time a depleted Australian squad went to Europe and won just one Test, in 2005, Eddie Jones was sacked.