ROBBIE Deans was a dead man walking because the decision to dump him for a more risk-tasking Wallabies coach was made even before the blockbuster series against the Lions.

Re-energising the Wallabies style dictated coach Ewen McKenzie would be swept into power yesterday even if Deans had produced a series triumph last Saturday rather than a 41-16 calamity.

A strict new Wallabies disciplinary code that will boot James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale off Test teams, for incidents like their recent misbehaviour, is rugby's new future.

News Limited yesterday uncovered the time bomb ticking under the Deans reign, which was kept secret from the coach whose record 74-Test run was terminated.

"Robbie achieved a great deal in his five years but it was probably a month ago that I cleared up in my mind that the Wallabies were ready for a change," Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver said.

"No, I didn't tell him (until Monday)...we did not want to mess with his head leading into the series."

Pulver made it plain that McKenzie's track record for innovative attack was a major factor in his selection while also saying a new coach meant a tough new line in the sand on team discipline.

Pulver revealed that senior Wallabies had spoken to him about a slip in team disciplinary standards.

Jumping on the self-centred ill-discipline of James O'Connor, who slept in and missed a team bus to training last Thursday in Sydney, must be a priority.

It came just a week after his 4am Hungry Jacks visit but his blase apology, with a reference to ordering room service next time, is said to have galled some team-mates even more.

McKenzie will have a face-to-face with O'Connor and partner in both crimes Kurtley Beale - the pair who were also nightclubbing in Sydney after last weekend's Test crash against the Lions.

"I've only spoken to James O'Connor twice. I'm not going to pre-judge," McKenzie said.

"We should be talking wow factor in rugby, not discipline. If you can't change behaviours, you change the people."

McKenzie banned Digby Ioane for a game at the Reds this season for tarnishing the team image even before police had fully investigated a minor assault charge. His disciplinary stance is hardline.

"I want players to step up and be very proud. To me, it's a week to week contract as a Wallaby. You make the most of it because if you're not doing the right thing that contract might not be there," McKenzie said.

"If you are crystal clear (on a disciplinary code) you don't have to be too tolerant."

Deans should be recognised for his achievements with the Wallabies as well. He stiffened the team's away record with some powerful results in Bloemfontein, Durban, Rosario, Cardiff, Paris and other cities.

He was also a big contributor at community rugby level with local coaches and his respect for the values of rugby made him one of the code's gentlemen.

"In many ways, Robbie's greatest legacy will be the quality of the playing group he has left behind, which Ewen will inherit," Pulver said.

"Robbie's comment to me that it has been a great privilege for him to serve as coach of the Wallabies reflects one of the real good guys in the world of rugby."

Melbourne captain Scott Higginbotham gave a damning explanation of O'Connor, last weekend's Test flyhalf, not being offered a new deal at the club.

"No one questions his playing ability...it was more how the club felt he fitted into the team dynamic," Higginbotham said.

That will be one of McKenzie's first challenges - to get through to players like O'Connor.

Originally published as Deans dead man walking before Lions