Dave Rennie issues Wallabies warning: 'A lot of discussions need to happen behind closed doors'
Dave Rennie believes Australia can benefit from the experience he has gained with Glasgow as he prepares to take up his new role as head coach of the Wallabies. Rennie has spent the last four years with the Warriors, guiding them to the Guinness PRO14 final last year.
He now reckons the spell in the northern hemisphere has left him better equipped for international rugby. “It’s been good for me,” said Rennie, who is leaving Glasgow earlier than planned amid the pandemic shutdown, with Danny Wilson taking over from next week. “I was keen to experience a different culture and a different type of footie.
“Rugby goes on forever up here, the seasons roll into one, so you have to be very detailed around your planning. Around the international commitments, you lose players for big chunks of time so you have to bring through young kids and manage a much bigger squad.
“It’s very set-piece orientated and we have developed a pretty good scrum and an excellent lineout. I know if I bring an international team up here our set-piece has to be good enough… I’ve got to know a lot of players and the clubs and I’ve got a good understanding of how the international teams work, so when I bring an international team up here I’ll know what to expect.”
Rennie is braced for a big challenge as he tries to rescue the fortunes of an Australian team that has slipped to seventh in the world rankings after last year’s World Cup, while off-field issues led Raelene Castle – the woman who appointed Rennie – to resign as Rugby Australia chief executive last month.
“Things have been a bit messy and that’s putting it mildly,” Rennie said. “An enormous amount of stuff has come out in the press and that’s one thing I’d like to stop. A lot of discussions need to happen behind closed doors… but there are lots of good things happening in Australian rugby. The Super Rugby coaches have given us a lot of access to the players and we’ve done a lot of work with those guys.
“Personally I’m in a better place than I would have been if we’d been playing PRO14, so if there are any positives from the pause to the season it would be that. I’m a lot clearer on the players and where they are at and what we need to do.”
Wilson, the Scotland forwards coach, had been due to shadow Rennie for several weeks at Glasgow following the Guinness Six Nations, but those plans were shelved once the season was brought to a halt. “The plan was for him to come in and be a fly on the wall, get an understanding of everything and then he could make changes and throw out what he doesn’t like,” Rennie said.
“Obviously that’s not been possible but there have been a lot of phone calls, a lot of Zoom meetings and he is in a pretty good place. Maybe not as good as it might have been but he has made the best of the situation.”
Rennie is planning to return home to New Zealand within the next fortnight, but as things stand he must then spend two weeks in quarantine. He is not expecting to head to Australia until mid-July. He will also have to say his farewells virtually as he departs Glasgow.
“It’s come around quickly,” he said. “It’s a little bit odd that I’m not going to get a chance to say goodbye face-to-face but I’m jumping on a lot of calls with players. We’re not too bad. Lots of people are having a really tough time so if we’re missing out on a bit of footie and not being able to shake a few hands on the way out it’s not as bad as what others have had.”
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments