Robbie Deans 'sacked as Australia head coach' following defeat to the Lions

There has been much speculation about his future

Robbie Deans speaks to his players after defeat (GETTY IMAGES)

Robbie Deans has been sacked as Australia head coach following the Wallabies' Test series defeat to the British and Irish Lions, according to reports in the Australian press.

Ewen McKenzie, the former Test prop who guided the Queensland Reds to the Super Rugby title in 2011, will reportedly be unveiled as the new Wallabies coach tomorrow.

Deans is said to have been released from his contract six months early following a meeting with Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver.

The Lions' record 41-16 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday, which secured the tourists a 2-1 Test series triumph, appears to have sealed Deans' fate.

The New Zealander took over as Australia head coach after the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He led the Wallabies to third place in the 2011 tournament and to the Tri-Nations title in 2011.

But he never delivered the Bledisloe Cup - the trophy presented for series between the Wallabies and New Zealand - and there has been a clamour for the Wallabies to be coached by an Australian.

McKenzie, a World Cup winner with the Wallabies in 1991, was part of the Australia coaching staff under Eddie Jones before taking over as head coach of the NSW Waratahs, Stade Francais and the Reds.

The 48-year-old announced in March that he would be standing down from his position with the Reds at the end of the Super Rugby season to pursue a national coaching role. He was linked with the Ireland post before it was filled by Joel Schmidt.

McKenzie reportedly fended off competition for the Australia position from Jake White, the ACT Brumbies coach who led South Africa to their 2007 World Cup triumph.

The Wallabies' next match is against New Zealand on August 17 in the Rugby Championship.

PA