Ewen McKenzie has been appointed coach of the Australian rugby team after the dumping of New Zealander Robbie Deans.
The Australian Rugby Union on Tuesday announced that the 53-year-old Queenslander would lead the Wallabies from next month. His first assignment is against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship in Sydney on 17 August.
The former assistant Wallabies coach guided the Queensland Reds to a Super Rugby triumph in 2011 and had been widely tipped to replace Deans after the New Zealander stood down as Wallabies coach following the 2-1 series loss to the British and Irish Lions, the ABC reports. On Saturday, the Wallabies were hammered 41-16.
Deans was appointed in December 2007 and the former All Black's contract had been extended for two years in 2011.
His tenure was marred by disciplinary problems and several off-field distractions during the Lions series.
Under him, the Wallabies won a modest 43 out of 74 tests, and just three of 18 against the All Blacks.
Speculation about his handling of the job has been rampant for some time.
