Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has today confirmed he wants to coach the All Blacks.

Speaking at the announcement of next year's Super 14 squad, Deans said he was “available, interested and keen” to return to the New Zealand set-up after he assistant to John Mitchell between 2001 and 2003.

Deans is also currently being chased by the Australian Rugby Union to replace John Connolly as the coach of the Wallabies but he admitted he had his heart set on the All Blacks job.

"To that end I won't be doing anything that will preclude me from that opportunity in the near future.

"And obviously that includes any interview for an Australian position. The Australians have expressed an interest but they have been very respectful in the way they have gone about that."

Australian rugby boss John O'Neill recently confirmed Deans was a strong candidate for the Wallaby job but the New Zealand Rugby Union, meanwhile, has not yet declared its intentions surrounding Graham Henry’s future in the job. O'Neill has said he wants to fill the position by late November while the NZRU has said it may not come to a decision until Christmas.