'Deans often in no-win situation'

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Outside support ... Gatland believes Deans has been harshly criticised, partly because he's a Kiwi. Source:AP

Wales coach Warren Gatland believes Wallabies counterpart Robbie Deans has been harshly judged by critics and he questions whether some of it's because he's a New Zealander.

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Preparing for the season-ending Test between their two sides in Cardiff, Gatland did not intend a pun when declaring he often thought Deans was in a "no-win situation" when it came to being graded on wins against the world champion All Blacks.

After a turbulent season of mixed results and innumerable injuries, the Wallabies not only need to beat Wales for a fourth time this year, but do it with style to keep Deans's small army of doubters reasonably quiet over the holiday period.

The 49-year-old Gatland has known fellow Kiwi Deans since their representative playing days in New Zealand and sympathises with him over the heat he's been under in 2012.

"I feel for Robbie Deans a little bit, he's under a massive amount of pressure," Gatland said.

"It's a bit hard when you win the Tri Nations last year and you finish second in The Rugby Championship this year.

"You finish third in the World Cup and you're number two (team) in the world and people want to get rid of you.

"Most coaches would be pretty safe with those sort of numbers and statistics.

"It probably doesn't help that he comes from over the ditch (New Zealand)."

Gatland said on Wednesday Deans was in a difficult situation after an injury-ravaged season while the All Blacks are flying high at the top of world rugby.

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"The perception and expectation is to beat the All Blacks on a regular basis and they've found it tough over the last few years ... I think that's potentially been his biggest downfall," he said.

"Even though they won that (Tri Nations deciding) game in Brisbane last year and had that drawn (dead rubber Bledisloe Cup) match this year that they probably should have won.

"I feel like sometimes he's in a no-win situation."

The Wallabies have battled through a wretched year on the injury front losing key players including James O'Connor and three successive captains in James Horwill, David Pocock and Will Genia.

Gatland, who will coach the British and Irish Lions when they tour Australia next year, said the Wallabies would benefit in the long run.

"I think we can't underestimate the benefit of the last six months that Australia would have gone through in terms of coping with the injuries," Gatland said.

"I think that's going to give them the depth and competition that sometimes they've lacked."

To make Deans's job that little bit tougher he's had to deal with disgruntled playmaker Quade Cooper.

"It been tough and then when you get someone like Quade Cooper come out and criticise the environment it doesn't make it easy," said Gatland.

"Then you have ex-coaches and ex-internationals ... whether it's Alan Jones or (David) Campese or whatever, it's been tough on him."

Watch the Wallabies take on Wales LIVE and in stunning HD from 1.30am (EDT) on Sunday, December 2.

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