The more the Australian Rugby Union continues to deny Robbie Deans is the man it wants to be the next Wallabies coach, the closer the New Zealander is to becoming the first foreigner to coach the national side.

The ARU has again rejected claims it has been head-hunting the Canterbury Crusaders coach while putting the main Australian candidates through an exhaustive interview process. Only now, with Deans having missed out on the All Blacks coaching job to Graham Henry last Friday, is the ARU recognising him as a candidate - as an official late entrant.

Yesterday, the ARU announced Deans had been granted a formal interview set for early this week. The ARU received on expression of interest from Deans on Saturday when the ARU's high performance manager, Pat Howard, telephoned him. The call was made at the request of ARU chairman Peter McGrath following a discussion he had about Deans with chief executive John O'Neill and his deputy, Matt Carroll, earlier that day.

However, while the ARU says it wants to exhaust all avenues to find "the best person for the job", there are deep-rooted concerns among many in Australian rugby that the ARU's process has been anything but clear and fair. Many insiders are asking why the process has taken so long with the five shortlisted applicants - Ewen McKenzie, David Nucifora, Alan Jones, Laurie Fisher and John Muggleton - asked to undergo psychological tests as far back as September before their final interviews with the selection panel on November 9.

But emotions are not one-sided. Carroll yesterday criticised one candidate, NSW coach McKenzie, for questioning the process and the potential impact of a foreign coach. McKenzie fears that an overseas coach would be out of touch with the game at grassroots level.

"Ewen's concerns won't effect his candidacy, but I don't know where he is coming from on this," Carroll said. "Community rugby is an issue for all of us to develop the game. Whoever is the Wallabies coach, the most important thing is to have a successful Wallabies team. That helps community rugby more than any engagement with coaches. Ewen would be better to let the process go through and keep his counsel to himself."

Carroll said Deans's interview would be held "early [this] week, well and truly before Thursday" when the ARU board meets for two days to discuss, among other matters, the panel's recommendations on the other five candidates.

Deans showed strong interest in the job yesterday. Asked during the lunch break of a charity cricket match at Christchurch in which he played, he said: "I'd certainly look at it if it became an opportunity. I've expressed an interest to coach at an international level again. So I would. It all depends on the circumstances on the other side … on the Australian board's stance. If it becomes available, I'll look at it."

Carroll denied the ARU should sympathise with candidates who felt the process had been unfair.

"We make no apology. We want to get back to our winning ways and we need the success," Carroll said. "[We want] the best man for the job. If people are upset by that, I am terribly sorry. That's the way it has to be."

He also denied the ARU has used two policies - one for Deans and another for Australians. "The ARU doesn't have two policies. Early this year, the ARU changed its policy to allow for non-Australians to become an Australian coach," he said. "Our policy is to secure the best coach … the selection process is still being followed. The panel will interview Robbie Deans. He is a late candidate. It's entirely up to the board to allow a late candidate enter."

If Deans gets the nod, the ARU would allow him to continue coaching the Crusaders, but the NZRU will have final say on that. One sticking point could be that the ARU envisages a four-year appointment aimed at winning the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

The ARU is also prepared to consider other late candidates, if they were deemed worthy. "If another late candidate came who was worthy of being a late candidate we would do the same," Carroll said.

Asked if World Cup-winning Springboks coach Jake White would fit that bill, Carroll smiled before replying: "I would refer his request, if that was the case, to our chairman, who would refer it to the panel."