Rugby Australia's search to replace Eddie Jones is ahead of schedule, with former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt's announcement imminent.
AAP reported in December that the New Zealander was a front-runner to win the gig, given Schmidt's history working alongside Rugby Australia (RA) new high-performance boss Peter Horne at World Rugby.
New RA chief Phil Waugh had set March as the deadline for an announcement ahead of the Wallabies' season-opening Test against Wales in July, and expressions of interest in the role only closed on Friday.
But multiple reports suggest Schmidt is all but locked in, with senior players told of the appointment on Wednesday, and an official announcement to follow in coming days.
He is set to be the third New Zealander after Robbie Deans and Dave Rennie to coach Australia, now ranked ninth after failing to progress from the World Cup group stage for the first time last year.
Schmidt beat a field that included Ian Foster, who he assisted when the All Blacks reached last year's World Cup final, as well as former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and homegrown talents Dan McKellar and Stephen Larkham.
He also worked closely with Australian David Nucifora, who remains Ireland's high-performance director until after the Paris Olympics but is set to return to RA in an advisory role.
Ireland won three Six Nations crowns and the 2018 grand slam, progressing to world No.1 in a seven-year stint under Schmidt.
He then joined World Rugby's high-performance team, before returning to coaching as Foster's assistant, culminating in a one-point loss in the World Cup final.
New Japan coach Jones signed a five-year Wallabies deal after the shock axing of Rennie, but he was gone in less than a year, the Wallabies winning just two of nine Tests in 2023.
Schmidt, a former school teacher, will have his work cut out when the British and Irish Lions, coached by former Ireland mentor Andy Farrell, tour the country next year.
