Massive loss to British and Irish Lions the breaking point for ARU.
Robbie Deans is set to pay the ultimate price for the Wallabies losing their Test series against the British and Irish Lions with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to announce he has been dumped from the role.
Pressure was mounting on the New Zealand-born coach even before the second game win against the Lions, with the final straw being the 41-16 thumping in Sydney last weekend.
Deans had a meeting with ARU chief executive Bill Pulver today, and was told his contract would be cut six months early as the organisation looks in a new direction.
While Brumbies coach Jake White was strongly considered for the job, McKenzie’s credentials and popularity could not be ignored.
Having won the 2011 Super Rugby title with the Reds playing an expansive and entertaining style, McKenzie will be expected to re-ignite the Wallabies attack and appeal to fans, who have grown frustrated by the lack of trophies under Deans.
Having taken over in 2008 amid much hype, Deans failed to win a Bledisloe Cup and his Wallabies were soundly beaten by the All Blacks in the 2011 World Cup semi-final.
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