Deans plays down Aussie Super Rugby woes

Robbie Deans has played down the poor form of the Aussie Super Rugby sides and does not feel it will impact on his Wallabies squad.

After nine rounds of the southern hemisphere competition, there is only one franchise from Australia in the top six in the table, with the Brumbies currently third.
The Reds' defence of the title has faltered and they are languishing in 10th place in the overall standings, with just four wins to date, while the Western Force have won just twice and are in 12th.
The Waratahs are seventh, having also won four games, while the Melbourne Rebels are 13th out of 15 teams with just two victories.
Despite their poor results this term, Deans remains philosophical and feels that the Australian sides have not done too badly, and he has used the competition to help shape his side for the forthcoming international campaign.
"You learn something every week, and that's what we're there to do," he told reporters. "It's a great competition, there's nothing between teams and the reality is somebody has to be last and somebody has to be first, that's the nature of a points table."
The Wallabies stars will have little time to rest once the internationals start, with games against Scotland and Wales, and the fixture scheduler has done them few favours.
The Waratahs, Rebels and Brumbies all have Super Rugby fixtures on the weekend prior the Scotland clash, with the three-Test series against the Six Nations champions starting just five days later.
But Deans is unconcerned and believes that it gives a few fringe players a chance to show what they can do as the whole squad will need to be utilised.
"You look at that unique match in the first week and it's not something that daunts us," he added. "Obviously it's fantastic for the playing group, how to deal with that circumstance of playing Super Rugby on the weekend, a Test match Tuesday and another Test match Saturday.
"Scotland and Wales are just going to be lying in wait, they've got an uninterrupted prep, they'll be jumping out of their skin and they'll see a great opportunity in Newcastle."