Rugby: Deans hopes to break SA drought

Wallabies rugby coach Robbie Deans is hoping basing Australia at sea level will help them break their long drought in South Africa and bring a repetition of the success he has enjoyed in that country with his previous employers.

Australia head to South Africa on Friday for two Tri-Nations tests in South Africa, having lost each of their last eight Tests in that country.

The Wallabies haven't won in South Africa since a 19-18 victory in Durban eight years ago.

Conversely, Deans had an 11-8 win-loss record in South Africa during his Super tenure with the Crusaders.

New Zealand also enjoyed success at test level in South Africa during his time as the All Blacks coaching coordinator between 2001 and 2003.

Australia will arrive in Durban and Johannesburg only a day before the respective tests.

They will spend most of next week in Cape Town before heading to Durban and will then spend a week there before going to Johannesburg.

The strategy is along the same lines as the one employed by Deans during his hugely successful stint at the Crusaders.

The tactic was especially successful this year, when the Crusaders won both their South African fixtures.