Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has sensationally resigned in the wake of Australia’s last-gasp 29-28 loss to the All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium.

McKenzie, who was under fire in the wake of the Kurtley Beale/Di Patston texting scandal and a loss to Argentina, dropped the bombshell at the end of his post-match media conference on Saturday night.

He notified the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) of his decision, regardless of the Bledisloe result, at 10am on Saturday and only revealed it to his players in the dressing room after the gutting loss.

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“I think Australia has lost a great coach and a wonderful bloke and it’s very disappointing we have lost a man like him,” said ARU chief executive Bill Pulver, who attempted to talk him out of the stunning call.

“In essence, Ewen said he was going to struggle to retain the level of support he needs from the playing group and, in my view, because of the character assassination he’s suffered in the last two weeks.

“The attack on Ewen was relentless and essentially left him with the view it set him too far back to be an effective rugby coach.”

“Exit stage left”

McKenzie had been at the centre of a media storm following a confrontation between Beale and Patston on board a flight to South America before the loss to Argentina.

Patston went on stress leave and then resigned her role as Wallabies business manager, amid revelations about explicit and abusive texts and photos allegedly sent by Beale to her earlier in the year.

Questions were raised about Patston’s role with the team – she had worked in a similar role at the McKenzie-coached Queensland Reds before following him to the Wallabies when he became coach in July 2013.

McKenzie had denied suggestions he had an intimate relationship with Patston.

“It’s been a disappointing time I think for many reasons, I won’t even go into the detail, you guys can work it out,” McKenzie said on Saturday night.

“I’ve written to the board and I’ve been unhappy with a bunch of things so the easiest thing to do is exit stage left and I’ll leave you guys to ponder, speculate and I’ll write a chapter of my book and you will know all about it.”

His departure leaves the Wallabies without a coach heading into next month’s tour of Europe, with 11 months to go until the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Heartbreaker

Earlier, the All Blacks broke Wallabies’ hearts with a last-gasp 29-28 win.

After leading by 10 points with 11 minutes remaining, Australia conceded two tries as the world champions were able to get out of jail in a Bledisloe classic.

New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa crossed out wide with two seconds left and then Colin Slade kicked the angled conversion to complete a stunning comeback.

For all but the last minute of the match, it looked as though the Wallabies would produce their best win of Ewen McKenzie’s 15-month tenure.

It was a performance that restored pride in the gold jersey but the result left all Wallabies and the Australians in the 45,186-strong Brisbane crowd gutted.

Popular vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper crossed for Australia’s third try in his 100th Test to give a 22-12 lead just after halftime but he didn’t walk away with the victory he deserved.

While fatigue was a major factor for the gallant Wallabies, as they played the game on the front foot and ran the ball from side to side, the telling period was midway through the second half when they failed to capitalise on a one-man advantage.

Patrick Tuipulotu was sin-binned for taking out Rob Simmons in the air but a series of missed opportunities in the All Blacks’ 22 was punished when Aaron Smith dived over, just as the reserve lock was due to return.

Smith’s try gave New Zealand the momentum for the first time in the match but Australia looked home when Nic White landed a 45m penalty for a 28-22 lead.

After the turmoil of the Kurtley Beale texting scandal, an Australian victory would have been a sorely needed morale booster but they must satisfy themselves in knowing they delivered a performance to restore some pride in the gold jersey.

The Wallabies produced their best first half of the season in a crackerjack opening in which both sides crossed twice.

They hit the advantage line hard and won collisions with man-of-the-match Tevita Kuridrani and Sekope Kepu leading the way with strong ball carries that dented the All Blacks’ defence.

With recalled centre Christian Lealiifano producing crucial plays in defence and attack, it was the hosts who scored the first try when Nick Phipps converted concerted pressure by diving over from the ruck-base.

Each time the Wallabies put themselves in front in the helter-skelter first half, the All Blacks bounced back immediately with skilful tries to Cory Jane and Dane Coles.

AAP