THE first major appointment of the Bill Pulver administration could be Ewen McKenzie as the high performance manager of Australian Rugby effectively making him Robbie Deans' boss.

While Deans' position as Wallabies coach this year was reconfirmed by Pulver on Wednesday, it is understood there are high-level discussions at the ARU about McKenzie replacing recently departed HPU boss David Nucifora.

Nucifora left the ARU suddenly before Christmas after five years in the high-performance position, which is responsible for all elite programs in Australian rugby, including the Wallabies and Olympic sevens teams.

Sources say support for Deans at the ARU board level is finely balanced, with some having pushed for McKenzie's appointment this year.

But ARU chairman Michael Hawker is a strong Deans backer and the high-performance appointment is likely a short-term compromise to McKenzie supporters.

The Queensland director of rugby would still remain a candidate to become Wallabies coach next year, or when Deans' tenure ends.

McKenzie conceded the high-performance role was an "interesting position" he had previously been interviewed for, but it was not on his radar.

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