Robbie’s selection criteria

The surprisingly simple criteria Robbie Deans uses to select players.

Five-time Super Rugby title-winning coach Robbie Deans knows a thing or two about selecting players — AND how to build a high-performing team.

Robbie has three key elements he uses when considering players for his team: talent, character, and love.

First up, TALENT.

Robbie says, “Obviously you've got to have talent, but everyone's got talent. So within that, I look at mix and merit.”

Mix: do you have the right combination of people on the team? And merit: do you believe they have the skills?

“Merit is you got to be prepared to start them. If you're not prepared to start them, they'll know and their teammates will know and they'll sink as a result. So you got to believe in the people you select.”

Next, Robbie looks at CHARACTER.

“If you've got two people, there's nothing between them, then I'll look at character. And by character, I mean will someone continue to give, even if their own needs aren't being met.”

“They may not be getting selected, maybe they're injured, but they'll keep turning up for the team and for their teammates.”

Third, LOVE.

“They love what they do, because if they don't love what they do, then they won't take initiative; they won't master their own destiny.”

Talent, character, love; no matter which role you’re selecting for.