New Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has added his Queensland Reds attack coach, Jim McKay, to Australia's coaching team through to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
McKay, who served with the Reds for the past four seasons, will keep the same role under McKenzie for the Wallabies as part of a four-man coaching team.
The former Randwick winger will be one of three assistant coaches, with Nick Scrivener retaining his job as defence mentor and Andrew Blades staying in control of set-piece coaching.
Deposed head coach Robbie Deans had the responsibilities for Australia's backline throughout his six-season stint while coaching coordinator Tony McGahan left his national team post last month to take charge of the Melbourne Rebels.
McKay's two-year appointment is another good sign for controversial five-eighth Quade Cooper who has played his best rugby under McKenzie and McKay at the Reds.
Out of favour under Deans, Cooper appears likely to reclaim the Wallabies No.10 jersey for the Rugby Championship campaign which starts with the first Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Sydney on August 17.
McKenzie said the new coaching group had combined well already, keeping some continuity while also morphing plans into the "direction where we see opportunity".
"The structure has now moved away from the traditional forwards and backs concept because that polarises training.
"By coaching as an attack, defence or set piece, it allows us to coach and train in a more game-like manner," he said.
"Within all of that, I'll concentrate more on the team elements around the tactics and the game-plan, along with the breakdown, and then work on blending the skills of all three coaches together.
"Right now, I really think we've got a good mix between technical and tactical."
