Has the axe fallen already?

It sounds as though Robbie Deans is back on the job market; 3News reports:

Ewen McKenzie is reportedly set to be named the new Wallabies coach tomorrow.

The Queensland head coach has beaten his Brumbies counterpart Jake White to replace Robbie Deans, according to Fairfax Media.

New Zealander Deans is contracted until the year of the season but the Wallabies' most recent series defeat to the British and Irish Lions has put the ARU under pressure to end his six-year tenure five months early.

ARU chief executive Bill Pulver was expected to meet with Deans today.

The Wallabies' next Test match is against the All Blacks in Sydney on August 17 in the first match of The Rugby Championship.

You have to hand it to the Australians; they don't muck around. Just as the coup that ousted Julia Gillard was swift and deadly, the ARU seems to have already appointed a replacement to Deans before firing him.

We wonder what Quade Cooper makes of it all; stand by for confirmation and reaction tomorrow.