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'He will be relentless in his pursuit of excellence and expects all around him to be the same.'
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New Wallaby coach Dave Rennie will be no pushover for the people who appointed the Kiwi, warns one of the men who knows him best.
Australian rugby has already been torn apart by a rift between its head coach and chief executive.
The departed Michael Cheika and Rugby Australia’s chief executive Raelene Castle fell out before and during the World Cup in Japan.
Rennie, who won two Super Rugby titles at the Chiefs, has been appointed by Castle’s administration to turn the Wallabies around.
New Zealand coaching legend Wayne Smith was Rennie’s assistant and mentor at the Chiefs, and says he is a very loyal but direct man.
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“He’s prepared to put himself in the gun sights of those above him to fight for what he thinks is right,” Smith told the Sun-Herald.
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Smith, an assistant to two of the All Blacks‘ World Cup winning coaches, expects Australia to become an attack orientated side under Rennie.
He described him as “relentless, unwavering, loyal.”
“He’ll take no prisoners, ” Smith said.
“He will be relentless in his pursuit of excellence and expects all around him to be the same.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5N19IdA6AN/
“Rens expects loyalty and trust then gives it back in spades.
“He is unwavering in his commitment to attack. Players will have to lose their conservative ideas and be open to myriad possibilities of how to use the ball in a positive and logical way.
“Even behind their own goal line, if opportunities present themselves, you’d better take them.”
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Smith also believes Rennie’s Rarotongan heritage will play a significant part in his approach.
“Rens will want the team to connect with their past and the community, to show gratitude, to build their grit and resilience,” Smith says.
Wallabies great Michael Lynagh has a simple message for Australian rugby fans…https://t.co/f6zIHJxeOm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 22, 2019
“He understands the need for huge personal meaning as part of a winning mindset…he is a supporter of diversity and he stands up for his people and program if he thinks it’s right.”
The Sun-Herald also quotes former All Black pivot Andrew Mehrtens saying: “You don’t find anyone in New Zealand who says a bad word about him.
“He stays out of the limelight, he wants to get in and do his job and do it as well as possible. He’ll pull together a group of guys and put his passion into it and wants them to get a good experience out of it. He’ll absolutely throw everything he can into the Wallabies.
“He’s coached alongside the man I’ve probably got the most respect for in rugby, Wayne Smith, and Smithy can’t speak more highly of the guy.”
And former All Black No. 8 Murray Mexted described Rennie as “a great appointment for Australian rugby”.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
One of Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith’s key weapons at the Chiefs, Sonny Bill Williams, will be based in Canada moving forward:
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
219 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
16 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
219 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
219 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
44 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
16 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
44 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
7 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
219 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
7 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
7 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
7 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
219 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
44 Go to comments