A COUPLE of years ago, when Mark Hammett joined the coaching staff at the Crusaders, he was checking his emails one morning. His inbox contained a couple of messages from his boss, Robbie Deans. It wasn't what was in them that surprised Hammett, but when they were sent.

While Hammett had been tucked up in bed Deans had been burning the midnight oil, finetuning his team's game plan and tweaking a few logistical arrangements.

Hammett mentioned this to fellow coaching staff and was told: get used to it.

The common-held view that Deans is a man with a magic touch is a myth.

The prime reason he's been such a successful coach is hard yakka. His appetite for work is insatiable.

Few know him better than Mike "Tussock" Loughnan. The North Canterbury farmer and has been one of Deans's mates for years.

"A few of them start to think they are bigger than the game but Robbie hasn't changed a bit," Loughnan said, adding that "he's still the most competitive person you will ever meet".

All Blacks halfback Andy Ellis said Deans's empathy with his players created deep bonds.

All up it's a package that will work wonders when Deans starts work with the Wallabies today.