McKenzie in for Deans as Wallabies coach
Source: Agencies |
July 9, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ROBBIE Deans's tenure as Wallabies coach could end as early today, with the Australian Rugby Union set to name Ewen McKenzie as his replacement following the disappointing series loss to the British and Irish Lions, local media reported yesterday.
Australia's first foreign coach, the 53-year-old New Zealander is contracted until the end of the year, which would include the Wallabies' season-ending northern hemisphere tour, but the ARU is unlikely to wait much longer with two years left until the 2015 World Cup.
McKenzie, who coached Super Rugby side Queensland Reds to the southern hemisphere title in 2011, will be unveiled today as the Wallabies' coach until the next World Cup, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
An ARU spokesman declined comment.
The ACT Brumbies' World Cup-winning coach Jake White was also considered a strong candidate but eventually lost out to McKenzie, according to the reports.
The 1-2 series loss to the Lions, capped by a thumping 16-41 defeat in the Sydney decider on Saturday, offers the perfect excuse for the ARU to strike.
"One of the things we do at the end of a series like this is a review and that will be part of the review," ARU boss Bill Pulver said in comments published by The Australian newspaper yesterday, referring to Deans's tenure.
"We'll start that this week. It will be imminent. We need a brief cooling-off period to observe what happened."
Prior to the Sydney test, Pulver said Deans's future would not hinge on the result of the Lions series, fuelling speculation his fate had already been sealed.
Softly-spoken and unfailingly cagey, Deans has never endeared himself to a sceptical Australian public weary of New Zealand's domination of the Wallabies over the past decade.
However, the New Zealander was the Wallabies' most-capped coach, overseeing 74 tests in his 5-1/2 years in the post. Since taking over in 2008 he led the Wallabies to 43 wins, 29 losses and two draws, for a winning mark of 58 percent.
Australia's first foreign coach, the 53-year-old New Zealander is contracted until the end of the year, which would include the Wallabies' season-ending northern hemisphere tour, but the ARU is unlikely to wait much longer with two years left until the 2015 World Cup.
McKenzie, who coached Super Rugby side Queensland Reds to the southern hemisphere title in 2011, will be unveiled today as the Wallabies' coach until the next World Cup, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
An ARU spokesman declined comment.
The ACT Brumbies' World Cup-winning coach Jake White was also considered a strong candidate but eventually lost out to McKenzie, according to the reports.
The 1-2 series loss to the Lions, capped by a thumping 16-41 defeat in the Sydney decider on Saturday, offers the perfect excuse for the ARU to strike.
"One of the things we do at the end of a series like this is a review and that will be part of the review," ARU boss Bill Pulver said in comments published by The Australian newspaper yesterday, referring to Deans's tenure.
"We'll start that this week. It will be imminent. We need a brief cooling-off period to observe what happened."
Prior to the Sydney test, Pulver said Deans's future would not hinge on the result of the Lions series, fuelling speculation his fate had already been sealed.
Softly-spoken and unfailingly cagey, Deans has never endeared himself to a sceptical Australian public weary of New Zealand's domination of the Wallabies over the past decade.
However, the New Zealander was the Wallabies' most-capped coach, overseeing 74 tests in his 5-1/2 years in the post. Since taking over in 2008 he led the Wallabies to 43 wins, 29 losses and two draws, for a winning mark of 58 percent.
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