Henry said he is grateful for the chance to continue. He said lessons had been learned from the 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign.
Eagle said the union "accepts it was jointly responsible and accountable for the [World Cup] result and the planning that went into the campaign".
So what of the 'people's choice?'
Deans has been the No 1 choice of Australian rugby supremo John O'Neill ever since they started casting their net for a new Wallabies coach.
He had, and still has, the look of a man confident that he would achieve what he wanted.
So either he has 'salved his conscience' and can coach the Wallabies with no regrets (he's been rejected) - and they will contract him until after the next World Cup.
Alternatively the Rugby Union has offered to pay him handsomely, offered him all they possibly can in respect to those lesser status coaching roles, as a means of retaining him here. The two year contract for Henry would suggest something akin to this.
This was always to be a 'win/win' situation for Robbie.
